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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
