Central African Republic: Portrait of a Collapsed State after the Last Rebellion
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.13.2016.42.04Keywords:
Central African Republic, state dysfunctionality, collapsed state, violence, development issuesAbstract
Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world and has occupied the top place in all possible rankings of failed states, instability, poverty, corruption etc. for many years. However, although the CAR has experienced almost constant instability for the last few decades it was only in recent years that it has received the media attention which was unseen before. Such an unusual interest has resulted from two successive internal conflicts: first, in 2012 the anti‑government rebellion drawing together the alliance of rebel militia factions, the Séléka, and a year later the insurrection of the opposing Anti‑Balaka forces. The article is an attempt to analyse the causes of the instability of the CAR and the current political and security situation in the country, taking into account, among other things, the results of the fieldwork conducted by the author in the Central African Republic, as well as his long‑time research on the phenomenon of dysfunctional states.
Downloads
PlumX Metrics of this article
References
Administrative Decision on Central African Republic, Kimberley Process Documents, at <http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/en/2013‑administrative‑decision‑central‑african‑republic‑0>.
Google Scholar
Abdoulkarim D., ‘Central African Republic: “We’re Thought of as Foreign because We’re Muslims”‘, The Guardian, 16 May 2015, at <http://www.theguardian.com/global‑development/2015/feb/16/central‑african‑republic‑muslim‑christian‑militias>.
Google Scholar
The account of missionary priest Mirosław Gucwa, Bouar, Central African Republic, 27 November 2013.
Google Scholar
The account of Polish secular missionary in Central Africa Republic, Izabela Cywa, January 2016.
Google Scholar
Amnesty International, Central African Republic: Time for Accountability, July 2014.
Google Scholar
Balcerowicz B., Siły zbrojne w państwie i stosunkach międzynarodowych, Warszawa 2006.
Google Scholar
Brylonek M., ‘PKW w Czadzie i Republice Środkowoafrykańskiej’, Przegląd Logistyczny, No. 4 (2008).
Google Scholar
Campbell K., Central African Republic, Chad, and Sudan: Triangle of Instability?, Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention, United States Institute of Peace, December 2006, at <http://www.usip.org/publications/central‑african‑republic‑chad‑and‑sudan‑triangle‑instability>.
Google Scholar
‘Central Africa Republic: André Kolingba (1937‑2010)’, Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series, Vol. 47, No. 2 (2010), at <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467‑825X.2010.03128.x>.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-825X.2010.03128.x
Google Scholar
Central Africa: Lord’s Resistance Army Exploits State Weakness, 2011, http://www.rightsmonitoring.org/2011/02/central‑africa‑lords‑resistance‑army‑exploits‑state‑weakness/ ‘Central African Republic Referendum Clears Way for Elections’, France 24, 22 December 2015, at <http://www.france24.com/en/20151222‑central‑african‑referendum‑elections‑unrest>.
Google Scholar
Central African Republic, Country profile of human development indicators, http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/CAF.html
Google Scholar
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook, Central African Republic, at <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the‑world‑factbook/geos/ct.html>.
Google Scholar
Cywa I., ‘Czy nastąpi podział Republiki Środkowoafrykańskiej’, Afryka, No. 41 (2015).
Google Scholar
Debos M., ‘Fluid Loyalties in a Regional Crisis: Chadian “Ex‑Liberators” in the Central African Republic’, African Affairs, Vol. 107 (2008), at <http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adn004>.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adn004
Google Scholar
Dembassa‑Kette C., ‘Central African Republic Postpones Key Elections for Three Days’, Reuters, 24 December 2015, at <http://www.reuters.com/article/us‑centralafrica‑election‑idUSKBN0U718820151224>.
Google Scholar
Doctors Without Borders, CAR: No Hope of Returning Home, 27 January 2016, at <http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/article/car‑no‑hope‑returning‑home>.
Google Scholar
Engelbert P., ‘The Central African Republic: Recent History’ in I. Frame (ed.), Africa South of the Sahara 2008, London 2008 (Regional Surveys of the World).
Google Scholar
‘Ex‑prime Ministers in Two‑horse Race for Central African Republic Presidency’, The Guardian, 7 January 2016, at <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/07/ex‑prime‑ministers‑in‑two‑horse‑race‑for‑central‑african‑republic‑presidency>.
Google Scholar
The Fund for Peace, Failed States Index 2005‑2015, http://ffp.statesindex.org/rankings Global Finance, Country Report 2015: The Central African Republic, at <http://www.gfmag.com/gdp‑data‑country‑reports/302‑the‑central‑african‑republic‑gdp‑country‑report.html#axzz1VBOmyEyA>.
Google Scholar
Global Witness Report, Blood Timber: How Europe Helped Fund War in Central African Republic, July 2015, at <https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/forests/bloodtimber/>.
Google Scholar
Howden D., ‘International Justice and Congo “Warlord” on Trial’, The Independent, 23 November 2010, at <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/international‑justice‑and‑congo‑warlord‑on‑trial‑2141135.html>.
Google Scholar
Human Rights Watch, Central African Republic: Rape by Peacekeepers, 4 February 2016, at <https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/02/04/central‑african‑republic‑rape‑peacekeepers>.
Google Scholar
Human Rights Watch, Vol. 19, No. 13(A): State of Anarchy. Rebellion and Abuses against Civilians (September 2007).
Google Scholar
International Criminal Court, ICC Trial Chamber III declares Jean‑Pierre Bemba Gombo guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity, Press release, 21 March 2016, at <https://www.icc‑cpi.int/en_menus/icc/press%20and%20media/press%20releases/Pages/pr1200.aspx>.
Google Scholar
International Criminal Court, Situation in the Central African Republic in the Case of the Prosecutor v. Jean‑Pierre
Google Scholar
Bemba Gombo, at <http://www.icc‑cpi.int/iccdocs/doc/doc699541.pdf>.
Google Scholar
International Crisis Group, Central African Republic: The Roots of Violence, Africa Report no. 230, Brussels 2015, at <http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/africa/central‑africa/central‑african‑republic/230‑central‑african‑republic‑the‑roots‑of‑violence.pdf>.
Google Scholar
Interview with the apostolic nuncio in Central African Republic, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, 18 August 2010.
Google Scholar
Interviews and observations during author’s visit to the Children Village SOS in Bouar, Central African Republic, 29 July 2010.
Google Scholar
Jaulmes A., ‘La France envoie 400 soldats supplémentaires en Centrafrique’, Le Figaro, 14 February 2014, at <http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2014/02/14/01003‑20140214ARTFIG00377‑la‑france‑envoie‑des‑renforts‑en‑centrafrique.php>.
Google Scholar
Kępczyński A., ‘Wyzwania logistyczne operacji w Czadzie i Republice Środkowoafrykańskiej’, Przegląd Logistyczny, No. 4 (2008).
Google Scholar
‘Kłopoty polskiego podróżnika, nie dał łapówki’, Gazeta Wyborcza, 5 August 2011, at <http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/regionalne/poznan/klopoty‑polskiego‑podroznika‑nie‑dal‑lapowki,1,4813576,region‑wiadomosc.html>.
Google Scholar
Kolingba D.N., Patassé S., Bokassa J.‑S., ‘Central African Republic Election Delayed over Logistical Concerns’, The Guardian, 24 December 2015, at <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/24/central‑african‑republic‑election‑delayed‑december‑30>.
Google Scholar
‘Lord’s Resistance Army Killed Hundreds in Congo Massacre’, Reuters, 27 March 2010, at <http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/03/27/us‑congo‑democratic‑massacre‑idUSTRE62Q1PZ20100327>.
Google Scholar
Mehler A., ‘Central African Republic’ in D. Nohlen, M. Krennerich, B. Thibaut (eds.), Elections in Africa: A Data Handbook, Oxford 1999.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/0198296452.003.0010
Google Scholar
Ministére de la Défense, Opération Sangaris, 10 December 2013, at <http://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/centrafrique/dossier‑de‑presentation‑de‑l‑operation‑sangaris/operation‑sangaris2>.
Google Scholar
Münkler H., Wojny naszych czasów, trans. by K. Matuszek, Kraków 2004.
Google Scholar
Nkurunziza J.D., ‘The Development of African Landlocked Countries’ in E. Aryeetey et al. (eds.), The Oxford Companion to the Economics of Africa, Oxford 2014.
Google Scholar
‘No Winner Emerges in First Round of Central African Election‘, Reuters, 7 January 2016, at <http://www.reuters.com/article/us‑centralafrica‑election‑idUSKBN0UL25M20160107>.
Google Scholar
Queyranne G., Peace in Central African Republic? Last Rebels Sign Deal to End Conflict, Centre for African Development and Security, 2011, http://cads‑cdsa.org/2011/07/peace‑in‑central‑african‑republic‑last‑rebels‑sign‑deal‑to‑end‑conflict/
Google Scholar
The report of Polish secular missionary Izabela Cywa, based on the interviews with Central African politicians conducted in the autumn 2015.
Google Scholar
Sherwood H., Margaux B., ‘Pope Francis Promises to be “Apostle of Hope” on Central African Republic Visit’, The Guardian, 29 November 2015, at <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/29/pope‑francis‑arrives‑central‑african‑republic‑historic‑war‑zone‑visit>.
Google Scholar
SOS Children’s Villages International, Children at Risk. The World’s most vulnerable children: who they are, where they live, and what puts them at risk, November 2015, at <http://www.sos‑childrensvillages.org/getmedia/384bc38a‑62aa‑4c2a‑9563‑a5ecc61b6a77/SOS‑Child‑at‑risk‑report‑web.pdf>.
Google Scholar
‘Timber Companies Paid CAR Armed Groups Millions, Claims Report’, The Guardian, 15 July 2015, at <http://www.theguardian.com/global‑development/2015/jul/15/central‑african‑republic‑timber‑trade‑paid‑millions‑armed‑groups>.
Google Scholar
Tonino P., Nyabenda F., Islam en Centrafrique, Afrique Espoir, at <http://afriquespoir.org/?q=node/469>.
Google Scholar
‘Touadera Hopes to Heal Rifts after Winning CAR Presidential Poll’, Euronews, 21 February 2016, at <http://nr.news‑republic.com/Web/ArticleWeb.aspx?regionid=31&articleid=58458865>.
Google Scholar
Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index 2010‑2015, at <http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi>.
Google Scholar
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of African Affairs, Background note: Central African Republic, at <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4007.htm>.
Google Scholar
‘UN Finds More Cases of Child Abuse by European Troops in CAR’, The Guardian, 29 January 2016, at <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/29/un‑finds‑more‑cases‑of‑child‑abuse‑by‑european‑troops‑in‑car>.
Google Scholar
‘UN Receives New Allegations of Rape by Minusca Peacekeepers in CAR’, The Guardian, 19 August 2015, at <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/un‑receives‑new‑allegations‑of‑by‑minusca‑peacekeepers‑in‑car>.
Google Scholar
UN, MINUSCA Facts and Figures, at <http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/minusca/facts.shtml>.
Google Scholar
UNDP, Country profile of human development indicators: Central African Republic, at <http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/CAF>.
Google Scholar
UNDP, Human Development Report 2015, at <http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2015_human_development_report.pdf>.
Google Scholar
UNHCR, 2015 UNHCR country operations profile: Central African Republic, at <http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e45c156.html>.
Google Scholar
UN‑OHRLLS, Least Developed Countries, http://www.unohrlls.org/en/ldc/related/62/Walk Free Foundation, Global Slavery Index 2014, http://d3mj66ag90b5fy.cloudfront.net/wp‑content/uploads/2014/11/Global_Slavery_Index_2014_final_lowres.pdf
Google Scholar
Weyns Y. et al., Mapping Conflict Motives: The Central African Republic, International Peace Information Service, Antwerp 2014, at <http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/20141124_CAR.pdf>.
Google Scholar
Wieczorek R., Listy z serca Afryki, Kraków 2007.
Google Scholar
Ambassador, director: Mads Brügger, Denmark 2011, distribution: Against Gravity.
Google Scholar
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
