Central African Republic: a silent crisis crying out for help
 One of the world’s poorest countries, CAR is a
cauldron of turbulence that threatens to undermine peace efforts in Central
Africa.
In a continent beset with bloody conflicts often triggering banner
headlines, the Central African Republic (CAR), located in an unstable
triangle bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo, southern Sudan and
Chad, is a silent crisis crying out for increased international donor
support and media attention. A year ago, with the world’s eyes riveted on
Iraq, CAR suffered another in a long history of coups and uprisings when
General Bozize led an army of insurgents to topple elected President
Ange-Felix Patasse in March 2003. Today, transitional institutions have been
established and an electoral calendar that envisions elections in January
2005 has been issued. Nevertheless, the overall situation remains fragile
and volatile. In spite of its economic potential - rich in timber, gold,
diamonds and uranium - CAR ranks 154th among the world’s 174 poorest
countries with 95% of its population living on less than US two dollars a
day. Over a million of its 3.7 million population are isolated and without
access to health care, education and basic services. With 200,000 people
internally displaced, farming has been disrupted and the country’s food
security is precarious. Some 15% of CAR’s population suffers from HIV/AIDS,
making it one of the world’s 10 worst hit countries, while the number of
children orphaned by AIDS continues to escalate. Preventable diseases like
polio, malaria, measles and meningitis, already at epidemic levels, have
reached a new high and take a daily toll.
While the situation in the capital, Bangui has improved slightly, the
security situation outside the capital has continued to deteriorate, with
serious human rights violations reportedly being perpetrated by armed
groups, including supporters who had helped General Bozize seize power. Some
of the 42,000 refugees who fled into neighbouring Chad are now trickling
back home. It is widely recognized that there can be no lasting progress in
tackling these grave challenges unless sustainable stability is restored.
Security and stability have been problematic since military mutinies in
1996, triggered by the armed forces’ grievances over unpaid salary arrears.
The ensuing internal conflict led to regional and subsequently UN
peacekeeping intervention. The Economic and Monetary Community of Central
African States currently has 350 soldiers based in Bangui, with a limited
role and capacity to act. The logistical and financial support to them and
to the national army appears insufficient to restore security control across
the country.
As news headlines focus elsewhere, the United Nations is deeply concerned
about the serious financial difficulties confronting the CAR where important
progress made towards restoring constitutional order and peace risks being
compromised or even overturned. The inability of the transitional government
to pay salaries, including for security forces, could result in defeating
the objective of achieving a durable peace.
The international community should provide immediate support not only to
stabilize the transition, but also to enable viable economic development. So
far only some $700,000 has been raised in response to a special humanitarian
appeal made by the UN in November 2003 seeking a total of almost $17
million. As the UN strives to promote peace in the Central African region, a
stable CAR is a necessary condition for durable stability in neighbouring
countries without which the wider region could easily be engulfed in
unforeseen turmoil.
For further information:
Mr. Christian Boatswain, Political Affairs Officer, UN Department of
Political Affairs (DPA)
Tel: (1 212) 963-0219;
E-mail: boatswain@un.org
Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Spokesperson (New York) UN Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Tel: (1 917) 367-5126;E-mail: bunker@un.org
Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Spokesperson (Geneva) UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Tel: +41 22 917 26 53;
E-mail: byrs@un.org
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