Central African Republic: Ethnic cleansing and sectarian killings

In the Central African Republic, Peacekeepers forces have failed the mission of protecting the Muslim people from the ethnic cleansing, in the west part of the country. The objective of these forces is to stop the control of the anti-balaka militias (Christian militias), which purpose is “cleaning” the country from the Muslims. ¿The consequence? A Muslim exodus.

Muslims forced out of their homes, trying
desperately to leave by any means possible.

In recent weeks, there have been anti-balaka attacks on Muslims population in the northwest towns of Bouali, Boyali, Bossembele, bossemptele and Baoro. Due to the lack of action of international communities, international peacekeeping forces have failed in the attempt of protecting those communities. They left Muslims without protection.

In order to escape from the anti-balaka´s attacks, most of the Muslims have fled their villages, while others have taken refuge near churches and mosques.

The international peacekeeping forces are composed by 5500 African Union troops (MISCA) and 1500 French troops (Sangaris). They have been deployed within Bangui and several west towns.

This humanitarian crisis is the result of the seizure of power of the Seleka forces (Nearly all the members of Seleka are Muslims) in March 2013. From approximately ten months, these Seleka forces, destroyed, burned and massacred Christian’s villages.

The Christian response wasn’t a surprise. When the Seleka was disintegrated, the anti-balaka forces gained a lot of power. Then, their next step was the violence and expulsion of Muslim communities. Despite the disintegration of the Seleka, armed Muslim forces, acting independently, have continued brutal attacks on Christian villages.

“It is time for the peacekeeping operation in CAR to protect the civilian population, deploy to threatened areas, and stop this forced exodus.”

                       

Comment

Eye for an eye… This saying could resume the current problem in Central African Republic. The Christians, thirsty of vengeance, want to destroy the Muslim communities. They want to make them feel what they felt when they were attacked by the Seleka.

The anti-balaka militias don’t discriminate when they raze Muslim villages. Killing, no matter who, is a terrible crime. The anti-balaka forces should catch the real enemies and bring them to justice. But what they´re doing in these days is terrible. A lot of innocent blood is being spilled, hundreds of women, children and elders are being massacred.

Because of the actions of a minority, is paying the whole Muslim population. This is not fair, and the Christians militias should realize the atrocious crime they´re committing. They are killing human beings. And what is really ironic is that they´re killing under a name of a religion, the Christian religion, which promotes and defends the life of others, the life of their brothers.

Although, the international community has announced the military support, I think that they could do more efforts for controlling this situation and for calming the anger of the civilians. Yesterday, the European Union announced that they were going to send 500 troops, and France also announced that it would send 400 additional troops to its former colony.

Finally, I think that the main leaders from both sides (Seleka and Anti-balaka) should be brought to the justice and should pay for these horrible massacres, in this way, the Christian and the Muslim communities would feel consoled. This dreadful violence has no sense. As Mahatma Gandhi said once “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”.

Bibliography

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/central-african-republic-ethnic-cleansing-sectarian-violence-2014-02-12