Central African Republic: The Islamist Assault

On the 24th of March 2013, the Central African Republic (CAR) witnessed yet another coup d'état. President François Bozizé (who first got to power via a coup) was overthrown by Michel Djotodia, the leader of Séléka (a rebel coalition group).

CAR is a very appealing country to many political actors due to its natural wealth: minerals, uranium, oil, gold, diamonds, lumber and arable land. Its religious make-up is the following: 50% of Christians, 35% of animists and 15% of Muslims.

In this introductory article on CAR, we will address the rebel group - now in power -  and its probable intent. Séléka is mainly composed by the Democratic Front of the Central African People (FDPC), the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP), the Patriotic Convention for Saving the Country (CPSK) and the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR, supported by Sudan). We will focus on the latter because it was the group that started the CAR Bush War, in 2004; which eventually led to this present crisis; and because of the forces behind it.

An expert in African matters shared with us a letter that the UFDR seems to have authored - of which we will share an excerpt for reflection purposes:

"The Central African Republic UFDR greets you in the name of God and all Muslims of the CAR and the whole of the Central African region.

I wish to pass on the information below to the Muslims of the CAR and Chad for their well-being and security, particularly those in our own country, the CAR. I am giving you this information on behalf of the UFDR, as we are at unity and one in fellowship with our brothers in the Sudan, who are going through the same difficulties as we are. This brotherhood between us is a blood alliance; as proof of it, you can see the unity and solidarity between our brothers in DARFUR, as they work together for deliverance from poverty.

We want to meet together to fight for democracy for black Muslims; and it is for that reason that we are issuing this appeal to Muslims in Central Africa. Our movement first came to birth in 2004 in Bangui, the capital of the CAR, for the benefit of Muslims and those willing to shed their blood for their freedom; and for the promise made by the French in 1966, when they said that Muslims and Christians should live separately from each other. It is time now that this promise was fulfilled, and that Muslims have their own country. From 1966 to this day, the Muslim population of the CAR and Chad has never reached 35%. (...)

(...) The French asked us to make peace with the power-holders in Bangui, as we were in too much haste. So we must make peace, and they will find a strategy to help us. All that I have related here is the outcome of the Libreville agreement between the President and the rebel leaders, which we have adhered to out of respect to the late President OMAR BONGO of Gabon and the President of BURUNDI. This agreement was based on the following six points:

1. Ceasefire.
2. The festivals of Tabaski and Ramadan to be made official public holidays.
3. Every Muslim in the CAR to have a birth certificate, national identity card and passport like any other citizen of the country.
4. All Muslims to be free to serve, unconditionally, in the defence and security forces and in the civil service; and also for their style of dress to be officially recognised.
5. The fundamental, cultural and religious freedom of Muslims to be recognised.
6. The UFDR to be recognised as a political party for the defence of Muslim interests in the political and diplomatic fields.

(...)"

Michel Djotodia's intent, thus, is very clear: to turn a mainly Christian country into a Muslim nation. This assessment is supported by reports that Christians are being targeted by armed Islamists who visit Christian villages with the sole intent of committing atrocities against followers of Christ - "According to witnesses, the militants threw bodies in a river, including that of a five-month-old baby" (Catholic Group Aid to Church in Need).

In, "Why Central African Republic Matters", Scott Morgan expounds the forces behind Séléka: Sudan (whose former Arab Janjaweed fighters are among the militants and, thus, potential allies of President Bashir); Iran (that allegedly supplied Séléka with arms through Eritrea, which Iran often uses as a transit point); and the Lord's Resistance Army (who, since it no longer operating in Uganda, is void of a clear political agenda; and seems to be selling its services to the highest bidder - in this case, to groups with an Islamist Agenda). Scott Morgan also suggests that the crisis in CAR is an Iranian proxy operation; however, given other details (to be addressed in a different post) Dissecting Society would also point its finger at other Islamic actors.

The situation in CAR is extremely calamitous and it jeopardises international interests in Africa -  so why is our attention being persistently diverted to Egypt?