The Central African Republic

Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially

those of a particular ethnic group or nation. One recent example of
genocide occurred during a conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR),
starting on August 13, 2013 when the government of President Michel
Djotodia officially took over. The fighting was between the CAR's Slka
rebels, who were mainly from the Muslim minority, and the Christians.

International organizations, including the United Nations, warned the CAR
government leaders of possible genocide. One warning came from
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who said on Sunday April 20, 2014 that: The
Central African Republic is on the brink of a genocide and the power now
lies with its citizens to end the political turmoil. Archbishop Tutu also said,
It is the people of the Central African Republic who hold the key to
sustainable peace. It is the people who must learn to live together. He
was telling the people that if they wanted peace in their nation, then they
would need to learn to work together, instead of against each other.

Archbishop Tutu knew that months of struggle for power and
resources between warring groups in the CAR had only led to to anarchy,
religious segregation, and ethnic cleansing. He said that the United
Nations announcement that it would deploy a peacekeeping force to the
CAR was a massive relief. He believed that one of Gods greatest gifts to
people was the ability to choose what is right and what is wrong, and find
ways to resolve problems we have with other people peacefully. Hoping for
peace in the CAR, Tutu said, When we forgive, we liberate ourselves and
sow a seed for a new beginning; it has a powerful multiplier effect.

On March 31, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said that
South Africa would not deploy troops in the CAR, as there were already
enough troops from the region, from the European Union, and from France.
However, South African troops were still deployed in the CAR last year,
withdrawing only after a bloody battle that left 13 soldiers dead and another
27 wounded. But after intense fighting in early December left hundreds
dead in Bangui, it appeared likely that the U.N. Security Council would
authorize an official United Nations peacekeeping mission. But after the
African Union insisted it could do the job and the United States, voicing
concern over costs, refused to support a French-authored peacekeeping
resolution, the council instead allowed France and the African Union to
increase their existing small-troop presence.

The U.N. Council has condemned the death of Camille Lepage a
French journalist who was reporting the conflict in the Central African
Republic. French troops found her body during the search of a groups
vehicle. Violence has killed thousands of people and moved many more in
the Central African Republic since Muslim rebels deposed President
Francois Bozize in March of 2013.The rebels have since been forced down
from power but Christian and Muslim militias have continued to fight and kill
each other even though French and African peacekeepers are in the
country. Both groups Seleka (Muslim) and Anti-balaka (Christian) think that
what they are doing is for the good of the country but in reality both groups
have done nothing but cause pain for both sides Muslim and Christian
(U.N. condemns killing).





How does genocide occur and What are the lasting effects of
genocide
In genocide one group may not like how the other group lives like in the
book we read about the Cambodian Genocide First they Killed my
Father. The book is about a young girl (Loung Ung) who went through a lot
during the genocide. She lost almost her whole family and in the end she
went to America with her brother and his wife to start a new life. If you look
back at past genocides you will notice that in each Genocide it is one group
that is in the wrong, but in the Central African Genocide it is both sides that
are in the wrong because both groups are killing innocent civilians just
because of their beliefs. Genocide occurs when two groups like the Seleka
and the Anti-balaka have a problem with each other and won't discuss it.







Works Cited
the State." BANGUI, Central African Republic: French
Journalist, 26, Dies in C. African Republic. N.p., n.d. Web.
14 May 2014T

"Tutu Warns CAR 'stands on the Brink of Genocide'" The
M&G Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2014.

"Christians, Muslims Clash in Central African Republic."
The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 30 Dec. 2013.
Web. 15 May 2014.

Gold, Danny, and Samuel Oakford. "Allowing Another
Rwanda." The New York Times. The New York Times, 14
Apr. 2014. Web. 15 May 2014.

Rohde, David. "The Threat of Genocide in the Central
African Republic." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company,
12 Dec. 2013. Web. 15 May 2014.

"Sectarian Savagery." The Economist. The Economist
Newspaper, 15 Feb. 2014. Web. 15 May 2014.

Cumming-bruce, Nick. "U.N. Warns of Anti-Muslim
Violence in Central African Republic." The New York
Times. The New York Times, 20 Mar. 2014. Web. 15 May
2014.

"Peacekeeping Troops Arrive in Central African Republic
in Pictures."Theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media,
09 Jan. 2013. Web. 15 May 2014.