Central Africa: an election in a slaughterhouse

On December 30th, the Central African Republic is set to pass the first round of the presidential elections and voting for candidates for parliament. The former French colony at this point has de facto ceased to exist as a coherent state. There is a relentless civil war between Christian and Muslim groups, who control most of the CAR.

The history of the conflict

The current civil war in the Central African Republic started with the march of a Muslim militant coalition, Seleka, on the capital Bamako in December of 2012. With the support of fellow Muslims from the neighboring Republic of Chad, they seized power in the country and immediately launched a campaign of terror against Christians. Christians created, in response, armed groups of resistance "Anti-Balaka" (anti-machete) and started a massacre of the Muslim population. Representatives of the world’s two greatest religions are not able to end the conflict to this day, in spite of armistice agreements. War is accompanied by acts of cannibalism and massacres of civilians on both sides.

The failure of France and the South Africa

Military forces of France and the African Union are present, which does not control the situation in the country and cannot stop the conflict, however. The diplomatic efforts of France and the countries of the AU, in particular the Republic of South Africa, are also not able to deliver any lasting results.

The collapse of the statehood

A unified system of power in the country is actually not working. There are no effective control mechanisms, and on the ground in many parts of the capital, the real power is in the hands of warlords. The elections were repeatedly postponed since February 2015 due to the fact that the interim government was set up under mediation from the United Nations, with the participation of France and the AU, though they could not provide the minimum safety and logistics, such as printing bulletins and their distribution to the polling stations

Magic words

Most of the parties participating in the elections, and the rebel groups that they represent, contain the words "peace," "development," democracy "," renaissance ", in the names, thereby mimicking Western models. In fact, the roots of the conflict in the CAR have nothing to do with European political traditions of the modern era. The issues of main importance are the tribal and religious divisions.

Reasons for religious hatred

The Central African Republic is the most inland part of Africa, farthest from the coasts. Because of its geographical position at the center of the continent, it has often been the refuge for tribes fleeing forced Islamization in the western part of the continent - the territory of today's Nigeria, and in the east - in southern Sudan. Therefore, Christians and animists in Central Africa, comprising more than 80% of the people, perceive Muslims as hostile invaders.

Blood borders

The conflict in the Central African Republic, as well as many other conflicts in Africa, demonstrates the instability of most public entities created within the boundaries of the former colonial possessions. These borders do not take into account the specifics of religious and tribal regions. As a result, these become the cause of many conflicts.

The failure of nation-building

Africa has become yet another land of wanton destruction and massacres, evidence that the European model of the nation-state and the liberal ideology does not work in this cultural and historical context. Strong religious and ethnic identity is virtually destroyed under the artificial national statehood.

Interests of external actors

The Central African Republic is of interest to the world powers as a source of minerals: uranium, diamonds, gold and oil. Traditionally, this old quarter was under total control of its former colonial master - France. One of the reasons that France did not oppose the coup d'etat in 2012 was the plan of the previous government to invite China and South Africa to the develop the oil and uranium deposits. The United States, who are trying to participate in the resolution of the conflict, are interested in the development of oil fields. The US, like France, is interested in the curbing of Chinese penetration into Central Africa, which is impossible in conditions of the continuing massacre.

Forecast

Elections in a broken state will not change anything. The division of the country along a religious and tribal basis will continue for a long time.

France has tried to control its former colonies; by using the national elite of these states, formed in France. In the CAR, this approach fails. A likely consequence will be a more active collaboration of the French and other external actors with the warlords and faction leaders, who have authority in the field. The lack of a unified state gives power to the hands of foreign monopolies, which in these conditions will reduce the costs associated with state taxes and social responsibility; using bribery, private military companies and military forces of their native countries (especially France) to dictate their terms.

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Central Africa: an election in a slaughterhouse