The Central African Republic: A War of Questionable Background

Anti-balaka rebel

 
According to BBC, in the African country known as the Central African Republic, or CAR, there has been a religious civil war between Islamic forces called Seleka and a Christian self-defense militia known as anti-balaka, which translates to anti-machete. Many of the CAR's Christian citizens have expressed great anger toward the Seleka and one even said, "I want to become a rebel and kill members of Seleka. We suffered too much. Muslims are our enemies." There was violence in the African country, but there was a lot less before the Seleka leader named Michel Djotodia seized control of power in March 2013. He was the first Islamic leader in the CAR and claimed that his government would set democratic practices in place. The Seleka government acknowledges the rise in violence, however, they refuse to state that they are attacking any group. The CAR government claims to have disarmed the Seleka militia members and been placed into the CAR's army. However, even with the disarmament of the militiamen, the violence has not decreased. One town where violence broke out had left approximately 75 deceased and around 1,000 buildings destroyed. After such events, French soldiers have been sent to the country to quell such violence between anti-balaka and Seleka forces. The French soldiers act as both a deterrent and as a force to put an end to violence if it should break out, sometimes by the use of greater force. Many French soldiers have spent time disarming militiamen and rebel fighters, occasionally having to fight when some refuse to lay down their arms. Personally, I do not understand the circumstances that led to the eventual all out civil war between the two religious factions. As I researched the conflict, I came across numerous articles that stated that the anti-balaka were at fault, slaughtering many Seleka member and causing them to even flee the country. Yet from other articles I read, such as the BBC, seem to make it appear as if the Seleka are at fault. Vice News also does an amazing video on this topic, but it displays some very violent images, so if you wish to know more, you can look that up, but viewer discretion advised.

Seleka forces