Highlight
There is mounting concern over the US involvement in fuelling the ongoing sectarian conflict in Central African Republic after revelation that Washington is relying on one sectarian group in the country to advance her interests.
Summary
Recent intelligence summaries forecast a Central African Republic that could plunge into a big civil crisis in the event that the ongoing sectarian conflict is not stemmed.
Analysts have however concluded that the recently uncovered involvement by the US in the crisis could steer more hatred between the Christian and Muslim militias who are warring in CAR capital Bangui.
In the past week, dozens of civilians have been killed in clashes between Christian and Muslim militias in the Central African Republic’s capital, Bangui. The latest round of violence was sparked after a Muslim taxi driver was attacked and decapitated by machete-wielding gangs. That in turn led to reprisals against Christian communities.
Late September 2015, the Washington Post revealed that the US Special Forces was working with Muslim rebels, the Seleka in their hunt for Lord’s Resistance Army top commander Joseph Kony for terror related activities.
Kony, originally Ugandan and his LRA are believed to be responsible for mass atrocities and the recruitment of child soldiers in several countries including Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.
The Washington Post reported that American Special Forces had set up a jungle base in the northeast of CAR, where the Seleka militia has their stronghold.
The Seleka in CAR toppled the central government two years ago and triggered a still raging sectarian war with a campaign of mass rapes and executions. They are currently in a heated battle with the majority Christian group, the anti-Balaka.
Sections of Muslims and Christians are fighting and the decision by the US to form alliance with one of the warring militia could stir the violence. Since the US is also getting support from the Seleka to advance her own interests, she might be obliged to provide aid to the militia to fight its enemy. In such an event, the US greatly stands to determine the future of the conflict in CAR.
