June 28, 2017

Finally white smoke on world’s neglected conflict

located:	Central African Republic
editor:	Bob Koigi

In what could be a historic truce to one of the deadliest conflicts in Africa, 13 out of the 14 rebel groups have recently signed a ceasefire arrangement with the government of the Central African Republic.

It is a peace arrangement that if it holds could end three years that have seen the former French colony descend into anarchy, and an orgy of violence which has left thousands dead and millions more displaced. Yet the world has been blind to this catastrophe.

The conflict which traces its roots in 2013 when Seleka group, that is predominantly Muslim rebelled against the government for what it termed blatant neglect and marginalization, stoked religious and ethnic emotions. Within no time another group, anti-Balaka militia, comprising of Christians and which was initially meant for defense, metamorphosed into a criminal gang. Not even the 2016 elections that brought into power a legitimately elected administration could quell the violence. The government’s power and control is only exercised in the capital Bangui. The rest of the country is still in the hands of militia who plunder, rape and kill without batting an eyelid.

It may be too early to celebrate this new peace accord, if history is anything to go by. Already too many such truce arrangements have been signed before but they never see light of day. A case in point is the 2015 agreement with the Defense Ministry and the 2014 ceasefire chaperoned by the African Union.

Yet this time round the Central African Republic must put its house in order and work to implement the spirit and the letter of the accord. Another failed attempt at implementing the truce would descend the country into even worse bloodletting. Regional bodies that the country belong to including The Central African Economic and Monetary Community, Economic Community of Central African States, the African Union and even the United Nations must have their voices heard explicitly on the ongoing conflict. The leaders of the militia and the government must be made to commit with their lives to uphold, defend and respect the accord they signed, because it is time the people of Central African Republic were allowed to enjoy lasting peace.