Central African Republic Civil War By Jordan Gerson and Cole Vandergrift

Intro to conflict  Conflict between religions in the Central African Republic  War has been going on since 2012  Continues to effect the country  Brought wreckage to the country  Suspected ethnic cleansings verging on genocide  Conflict between religions in the Central African Republic  War has been going on since 2012  Continues to effect the country  Brought wreckage to the country  Suspected ethnic cleansings verging on genocide

Causes  Rising tensions in region  Rebel fighter groups  Instability since 1960  Overthrowing of capital  History of corrupt leaders- David Dacko, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, Andre Kolingba, Ange-Felix Patasse  Rising tensions in region  Rebel fighter groups  Instability since 1960  Overthrowing of capital  History of corrupt leaders- David Dacko, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, Andre Kolingba, Ange-Felix Patasse

Who Makes Up the Different Sides Christians Muslims 50% of CAR population 15% of CAR population Anti-Balaka militia Seleka militia Christians Vs. Muslims Christians Muslims 50% of CAR population 15% of CAR population Anti-Balaka militia Seleka militia Christians Vs. Muslims

What Has Been Happening Since  Area is descending into anarchy  Militias have been formed  UN needed to intervene  International troops have been sent in - 1,600 French 4,000 African  Many have been killed  Area is descending into anarchy  Militias have been formed  UN needed to intervene  International troops have been sent in - 1,600 French 4,000 African  Many have been killed

Rwandan peacekeepers pat down an anti-balaka armed fighter

Effects of the War  Thousands killed  Almost 1 million people displaced from their home  Many injured  Brutality  The war has allowed for the first female president- Catherine Samba-Panza  Seen as nonpartisan leader  Thousands killed  Almost 1 million people displaced from their home  Many injured  Brutality  The war has allowed for the first female president- Catherine Samba-Panza  Seen as nonpartisan leader

Personal Account What has it been like there the last few days? "It's horrific, actually. You have a country that is essentially falling apart. Neighbor killing neighbor on a daily basis in the most brutal, horrific fashion I have ever seen. Lynchings, people attacked by mobs, people having their arms cut off, people burnt with tires around their necks like we saw in South Africa in the 1990s. It is a complete catastrophe that no one seems to be paying much attention to. I can count the number of journalists here on my hand. I just saw today 10,000 Muslims forced to flee from Bangui and surrounding towns north toward Chad, because they are in fear for their lives. They are getting hacked to death, attacked in streets by mobs, the districts they live in and their houses and mosques are being looted and burned, so they have no choice but to leave." What has it been like there the last few days? "It's horrific, actually. You have a country that is essentially falling apart. Neighbor killing neighbor on a daily basis in the most brutal, horrific fashion I have ever seen. Lynchings, people attacked by mobs, people having their arms cut off, people burnt with tires around their necks like we saw in South Africa in the 1990s. It is a complete catastrophe that no one seems to be paying much attention to. I can count the number of journalists here on my hand. I just saw today 10,000 Muslims forced to flee from Bangui and surrounding towns north toward Chad, because they are in fear for their lives. They are getting hacked to death, attacked in streets by mobs, the districts they live in and their houses and mosques are being looted and burned, so they have no choice but to leave."

Response from International Community  The pope visited CAR  Journalists visit and document tragedies  French and African Union troops sent in  The pope visited CAR  Journalists visit and document tragedies  French and African Union troops sent in