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Central African Republic | Central Africa
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Recent reports and briefings

The Central African Republic (CAR) is if anything worse than a failed state: it has become virtually a phantom state, lacking any meaningful institutional capacity at least since the fall of Emperor Bokassa in 1979. The CAR has been formally independent for nearly a half century but the government only gained a measure of popular legitimacy through free elections in 1993. The democratisation process soon ran aground due to newly manipulated communal divisions between the people living along the river and those of the savanna, which plunged the country into civil war. Through a succession of mutinies and rebellions, the government has lost its monopoly on the legitimate use of force. The capital, Bangui, is relatively calm but the north is desperate and destitute, and in a state of permanent insecurity.

With the backing of France and Chad, François Bozizé took power in a coup in 2003 and won elections two years later but, like his predecessor, Ange-Félix Patassé, his firm grip on power and wealth has provoked multiple rebellions with disastrous humanitarian consequences. From mid-2005 to mid-2007, state security forces, the presidential guard in particular, committed widespread acts of brutality during operations aimed at repressing rebels in the north. They summarily executed hundreds of civilians and burned thousands of homes. Some 300,000 people are still internally displaced or refugees in neighbouring countries.

After a series of peace agreements an Inclusive Political Dialogue in December 2008 brought most of the country’s political and social actors to the table and made a valuable contribution to ending rebellions and revitalising the reform agenda. However, the unwillingness of Bozizé and his close circle to follow through with many concessions risks stalling national reconciliation. Meanwhile, delays in rebel disarmament have allowed more armed groups to emerge in the remote north east and violence to rise. There the 300-strong UN force (MINURCAT) is insufficient to protect civilians and humanitarian workers. The weakness of state security forces has also allowed the Lord’s Resistance Army, rebels originally from Uganda, to terrorise civilians in the south east.

To prevent presidential and legislative elections, planned for early 2010, provoking another political crisis, the government urgently needs to re-engage with the opposition on electoral preparations and negotiate with remaining rebels. In the long-term, the government, opposition, rebel movements, African regional bodies, the UN, the EU and France will all need to be committed if the CAR is to escape the vicious circle of state failure, violence and growing poverty in which it is trapped.

Crisis Group published its first report on the CAR in December 2007.

Our Central African Republic reports are listed below, starting with the most recent. You can also search for relevant reports using the search box in the top right hand side of this page. The French version of this page can be found here.


Recent reports & briefings