Central Africa and the Sahel

I spent a bit of the day on the news and comments being produced about the dramatic events in the Central African Republic (CAR). And I end up the day very much amazed by the little knowledge people seem to have about the root causes of the current crisis. Then, I wonder how can the external players contribute to a finding a solution to a problem they do not fully understand?

I served in CAR from 1985 to 1989. Then, I came back in 2008 up to 2010, to be deeply involved with the unfolding events.

I vividly remember my discussions with President Bozizé. Including about the role of Muslim armed groups operating in the border areas with Darfur and South-Eastern Chad. And the growing tensions with pastoralists coming from the Sahel. CAR had obviously changed in its social set-up between my first and second stay in the region. And that change was not only a warning of the crisis in the making. It was, in many ways, one of vectors of much deeper and multifaceted transformation that is being imported from the arid lands of the North and moving into the Bantu areas of central tropical Africa. 

Central Africa

The Central African Republic (CAR) is now a failed state.

The capital city, Bangui, is controlled by armed groups of uncertain origin. They are most likely dominated by warlords from Southern Darfur and Eastern Chad. They have little to do with CAR’s main ethnic groups but they are allied to Central Africans from the North-Eastern border areas. These are Muslims in a country that is largely Christian.

Besides the capital, there are other armed groups and several “self-defence” committees. But there is no central authority, no law and order, no administration and no modern economy. It is just chaos and extreme hardship.

The situation can easily spill over into some of neighbouring countries. They are also very fragile. They could become the next prey of the roaming armed men.  

The African Union has pledged to send a peacekeeping force to the country. It will be difficult for the AU to be able to mobilise the force and the resources required. It will also be a very delicate mission because of the religious divide that is now taking place, for the first time in the history of CAR.

The international community should understand that the country needs, urgently, not at the pace the AU can mobilise itself, a very robust international force, with full executive powers.

It is the survival of CAR’s population that is, first and foremost, at stake. But not only. It is an entire region. A region that is already the least stable of Africa. 

Protecting refugee children

Copyright V.Angelo


Darfuri children in Eastern Chad need protection against violence, forced recruitments into armed groups and very harsh living conditions. They also need the Sudanese education ministry to accept and recognise the academic degrees obtained by the school children in the refugee camps. As such, once they are back in Sudan, after a peace process, their qualifications for a better life are fully accepted.

Darfur women

There is hope. What is most important is to safeguard their rights.

A very long Sunday

I spent most of the day preparing for my trip to New York, which will start on Tuesday.

I will be addressing the Security Council on matters related to Chad. To Eastern Chad actually, because my mandate has nothing to do with the domestic political process that is taking place in the country. I am supposed to focus just on the security situation in area along the border with Darfur.

Listening to the refugees

In and around Farchana, in the Ouaddai Region of Eastern Chad, there are four refugee camps, with a total of 87,000 people. They came from Darfur, in Sudan, the first batch in 2004 and they are still crossing in.

I spent time today listening to some of their representatives. They all would like to go back home and rebuild their lives. But they know that the Darfur situation is too complex and they might have to wait for a long while.

In the meantime, the resources to take care of them are getting thinner. Less money for food, for instance. The classrooms are too big, to save on teachers and materials, but how much can each one learn, if the class is about 150 children? Then, the women complained that they have not received any soap for the last two months. The malaria season is at its peak and there is not enough medicine.

But all in all, security remains the key issue. Outside the camps, for sure, but also inside. The national gendarmerie is doing its bit, but they lack resources, men, supervision and motivation. The local administration is well informed but there is no supporting structure, no administrative capacity to coordinate, respond or direct.

And nobody is ever brought to justice.

The deployment of the new generation of Police and Gendarmes, trained by MINURCAT, has to take place soon. Certainly before the end of the rainy season. The first group is now ready, but there is still some legal red tape to be addressed.