UN Takes Increased Action Central African Republic Violence Spirals Out of Control

By Lorraine Farquharson Reprint | | Print |

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 30 2014 (IPS) - As violence hit record highs in the Central African Republic (CAR), United Nations French Ambassador Gerard Araud, Tuesday, called for increased peacekeeping efforts, warning that the heavy violence between Christians and Muslims could spiral into mass genocide.

Although 6,000 peacekeepers are currently deployed, Araud said that the amount seems quite low because of the country’s total land mass and the incredible outrage of war. He said that at least 4,000 more troops are required to restore some sort of order in the country.

Despite the amount of troops currently situated in the country (5,000 African, 1,600 French and 500 European Union), ex-Séléka  – supported by armed Muslim civilians rebels – and Christian militias – known as anti-Balaka (anti-machete who have now taken up arms) – are committing a barrage of atrocious acts, putting Muslim civilians in an even more vulnerable state.

“The CAR is no longer a state,” Araud said. “The country needs strong civilian support as the amount of peacekeepers currently there is not enough to rebuild state institutions.”

According to a press release, both High Commissioner Navanethem Pillay and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined together to express their reinforcement of the urgent need for a more robust response to the CAR crisis. “This is needed to protect civilians, prevent further violence, end impunity and promote reconciliation,” the joint statement said.

Violence in CAR is now at its peak because of rebels who re-started relentless attacks in the country in 2013.  The attacks have occurred in several neighbourhoods. Roughly 4,000 homes, plus many shops and mosques were stormed over the past weekend.  Hundreds of thousands are estimated to have been killed and roughly half the country’s population needs humanitarian aid. The town of Bangui is deserted as almost one million civilians have fled from their homes – half of which are children.

“We simply cannot let the social fabric of this country be torn apart. I call this a matter of utmost urgency upon the international community to strengthen peacekeeping efforts,” said Pillay.

The African International Support Mission to CAR (MISCA) working along with the WFP has provided aid to more than 110,000 displaced people in Bangui. The two organizations have also begun airlifting food from Cameroon into CAR. Two days ago, the WFP distributed food to 40,000 beneficiaries in the village of Bossangoa and last week 1,209 people were also fed.

Central African Republic’s interim President Catherine Samba-Panza has also written to the UN to call for the African peacekeeping force to be transformed into a larger U.N. operation.