ICC Note: ICC has continued to report on the persecution of the Cristian majority population in CAR by well-armed and experienced Islamist fighters. French and EU security officials arrived in Bangui this week to assess the situation and develop plans for military intervention to counter the Islamist threat.
10/14/2013 Central African Republic (The Africa Report) – Central Africa Republic could become a failed state if there is no military intervention soon, France has warned.
However, Paris is reluctant to be left to deal with another African hotspot alone.
CAR has descended into lawlessness since mostly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted President Francois Bozize in March.
The country now faces incessant attacks by rebels, forces loyal to the ousted Bozize, and threats from influx of Islamists militants from neighboring countries.
According to analysts, the disbanding of Seleka, a grouping of five northern Islamic rebel movements, is critical to peace and stability in CAR
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and the European Union aid chief, Kristalina Georgieva arrived in Bangui on Sunday to show solidarity.
Crowds in Bangui have held banners urging France to not to abandon the former colony.
Georgieva told reporters in Bangui that: “The priority is security, security, security.
“Unless there is a rapid increase in peacekeeping forces to reverse this looting, it will be very hard to get sufficient help to people.”
More than 400,000 people have been driven from their homes by acts of violence such as murder and rape, according to Human Rights Watch.
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