CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

November 2013

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November 2013 Increasing Sectarianism 

and Violence in the 

 Central African Republic 

Factsheet

 CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Map from U.S. Department of State, CAR, http://www.state.gov/p/af/ci/car/

The Central African Republic (CAR) has a long history of political strife that 

frequently has led to coups and human rights abuses. Yet the current chaos 

and fighting following the March 2013 coup against former President Francoise Bozizé is uniquely dangerous, as it increasingly is centered around religious identity and risks pulling the country into an intractable MuslimChristian conflict. If these forces are not contained, severe human rights 

abuses are expected to be increasingly perpetrated along religious and ethnic 

lines. The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama 

Dieng, noted these very concerns when he warned recently that the CAR 

may spiral into genocide. In addition, the growing conflict and lawlessness 

could turn the CAR into a failed state vulnerable to terrorist groups from either East or West Africa looking to expand their operations. 
November 2013

Central African Republic

Factsheet

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Background 

Fighting began in December 2012 when a coalition of armed rebels, the Séléka, advanced on the 

CAR capital, Bangui, in response to the government’s failure to implement provisions of the 2007 

and 2011 peace accords to pay former rebel fighters and integrate them into the army. The Séléka 

(Sango for coalition) is an alliance of fighters from at least four armed rebel groups that have been 

operating in the northern part of the country since 2003: the Convention of Patriots for Justice and 

Peace, the Convention of Patriots of Salvation and Kodro, the Democratic Front of the Central 

African People, and the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity. The fighters are Muslims from 

CAR’s almost universally Muslim Vakaga region in the northeast of the country, a large number 

of foreign fighters from Chad and Sudan, and some of former President Bozizé guards and soldiers. 

At the beginning of the rebellion, the Séléka were estimated to number around 5,000, but Amnesty 

International now reports estimates of up to 20,000 soldiers. The rebellion was led by Michel 

Djotodia, a Muslim from the Vakaga region and a former Ministry of Planning official and 

Consulate Council in Nyala, South Darfur. 

By the time the fighters reached the outskirts of the capital Bangui in December 2012 they 

controlled two-thirds of the country, including the major city of Bambari and the diamond mining 

town of Bria. Before the Séléka could take Bangui, neighboring countries politically intervened 

to end the fighting. The regional intervention by Chad and the Economic Community of Central 

African States (ECCAS) led to the signing on January 11, 2013 of the Libreville Agreement.

The short-lived Libreville Agreement upheld the 2003 constitution and set up a three year powersharing Government of National Unity that would end with presidential elections in 2016. Per the 

Agreement, the GNU was to be led by President Bozizé through 2016 and a presidentiallyappointed Prime Minister with full executive powers who would come from the opposition. The 

National Assembly would be dissolved and replaced with newly elected representatives within 12 

months. 

Bozizé failed to implement the Libreville Agreement, which led the Séléka to once again take up 

arms. On March 24, 2013 the Séléka captured the capital Bangui and deposed Bozizé. Djotodia 

proclaimed himself President and Minister of Defense; appointed opposition party leader Nicolas 

Tiangaye Prime Minister; suspended the Constitution; dissolved the National Assembly, the 

Constitutional Court and the Government of National Unity; and appointed a new government, 

composed of representatives from Séléka, opposition parties, civil society, and one Bozizé ally. 

In response to these new developments, Chad organized two summits of African states and CAR 

leaders on April 3 and 18 culminating in the N’Djamena Declaration and the N’Djamena Summit 

Road Map. The new CAR transitional government was recognized, a new 18 month transitional 

period led by a National Transition Council was tasked to draft a new constitution and prepare for 

new elections, and a new constitutional court was agreed upon. Djotodia was formally sworn in 

as interim president on August 18, marking the beginning of the 18-month transition period. 

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November 2013

Central African Republic

Factsheet

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Current human rights situation in the Central African Republic 

The Séléka are responsible for a breakdown in the overall human rights and rule of law 

environment in the CAR. The transitional government remains very weak and is absent outside 

of Bangui, as are rule of law institutions such as the police or judiciary and government service 

providers. Séléka fighters freely roam the country. Former special representative of the UN 

Secretary-General to the CAR, Margaret Aderinsola Vogt, told the Security Council in May that 

the country had plunged into a “state of anarchy.” 

There are continuous reports of killings, torture, arbitrary detention, gender-based violence, and 

enforced disappearances by the Séléka. Séléka fighters also loot property and food from civilians, 

churches, international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and UN agencies; recruit and use 

child soldiers; and engage in sexual violence. International charities report having to pay Séléka 

rebels to prevent being robbed. The human rights situation has worsened since June, following a 

breakdown in Séléka cohesion, and again since September with the formation of anti-Séléka 

militias. 

Since March, the four associated groups and other parties comprising the Séléka a have become 

increasingly disorganized, with the various factions and fighters increasingly difficult to control. 

Séléka members repeatedly have been involved in gross human rights abuses. The UN reports that 

Séléka leaders can access only areas controlled by men loyal to them, as different factions do not 

recognize leaders from other groups. While Djotodia signed a presidential decree in September 

disbanding the Séléka, the rebels continue to operate and commit gross human rights abuses. 

Current religious freedom violations 

The CAR is a majority Christian country. Eighty five percent of its citizens are identified as 

Lutheran, Catholic, Protestant, or Evangelical. The remaining 15 percent are Sunni Muslim. The 

Muslim population can be found in the Vakaga district, a poor and remote area in the north-east 

of CAR located at the borders with Chad and Sudan where Arabic is the primary language. 

According to recent State Department International Religious Freedom reports, prior to the 2012-

2013 rebellion and subsequent coup, Muslims faced consistent social discrimination and Muslim 

citizens were labelled “foreigners.” Low-level bureaucrats impeded access to services like 

citizenship documentation. Muslim-owned shops frequently were vandalized and, in some cases, 

vigilantes subjected Muslims to harassment, beatings, and detention. There also were reports of 

isolated clashes between Muslim nomadic groups and Christian or non-Muslim farmers and 

between Muslim traders and others. 

In the CAR’s current lawless environment, a number of identifiable religious freedom violations 

have occurred. The United Nations, International Crisis Group, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty 

International, Christian religious leaders, and humanitarian organizations all report that the Séléka 

attack priests, pastors, nuns, church buildings, and other Christian institutions. Séléka soldiers are 

reported to have beaten Catholic priests Abbé Philippe Greballe and Abbé Alain Banganzi, and 

nuns are threatened with rape. The Brethren church in Bangui’s Cité Jean XXIII quarter was 

shelled during a worship service on April 14, killing or seriously injuring a number of people, 

including children. The Catholic Church of Basse Kotto Prefecture and the Mobaye Catholic 

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November 2013

Central African Republic

Factsheet

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Church were looted and damaged in late January and early February 2013, respectively. On April 

13-14, clashes along religious lines occurred between Séléka elements and the population of 

Ouango and Boy-Rabe in Bangui, killing and displacing large numbers of civilians. 

Additionally, during their advances toward Bangui in December 2012 and March 2013, the Séléka 

targeted predominantly Christian neighborhoods and businesses were targeted for destruction. 

Séléka fighters in different villages, such as Bambari, Bangui, Boali, and Markounda, looted

churches but not mosques. In other villages, the Séléka protected Muslim residents while Christian 

residents were killed or raped and their properties were destroyed and looted. Amnesty 

International and Catholic leaders report that in some Séléka-controlled areas, non-Muslims are 

prohibited from selling foods not eaten by CAR Muslims, including pork, bushmeat and 

caterpillars. 

Concerns for the future 

The rise of the almost universally Muslim Séléka and CAR’s first Muslim leader has increased 

fear and confusion among CAR’s Christian population. Neighboring countries are also 

increasingly concerned about CAR’s internal religious tensions and rising religious 

fundamentalism. The UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights has warned that “The 

conflict in the Central African Republic should not remain forgotten for three main reasons: 

conflict will continue to impose suffering on large numbers of people, it will deepen the religious 

and ethnic divide, and it may destabilize the wider region.” The International Crisis Group reports 

that in online forums, some CAR citizens and members of the diaspora have encouraged the 

population to take up arms and systematically retaliate against any and all Muslims.

These fears are based on the facts that large percentages of Séléka soldiers are from Chad and 

Sudan; wounded Séléka soldiers have been flown by military aircraft to Sudan and Saudi Arabia 

for treatment; Séléka leaders have visited Qatar; Djotodia has strengthened ties with Morocco and 

Sudan; and most importantly, a rumor that in the April 2012, Djotodia wrote to the Organization 

of Islamic Conference (OIC) asking for monetary and material support, and in return, the Séléka 

would implement Islamic law across the CAR and try to do likewise in Chad. Djotodia has since 

denied writing this letter and reaffirmed that CAR will remain a secular state. 

In response to the Séléka attacks, a number of militias have formed to fight back. Known as the 

anti-balaka (Sango for anti-machete), these disparate groups can be characterized as local selfdefense militias who are Christian, pro-Christian militias, or militias made up of Christian Bozizé 

supporters. The various anti-balaka militias, depending on the situation, attack the Séléka, 

individual Muslims, and/or Muslim villages. 

For example, on September 6, anti-balaka fighters killed or captured 20 Séléka fighters and 

targeted Muslim homes in Benzambé. Three days later, on September 9, the anti-balaka attacked 

a Muslim neighborhood in Bouca, killing three people and burning 150 homes belonging to 

Muslims. In response, Séléka fighters that same day in Bouca killed 10 Christians and burned 

down 300 homes belonging to Christians. A Séléka commander also accused a humanitarian 

worker of assisting the anti-balaka and executed him. In early October, Séléka and anti-balaka 

clashes again broke out. On October 7, anti-balaka and Séléka engaged in battle in Gaga village, 

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November 2013

Central African Republic

Factsheet

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

before the anti-balaka attacked Muslim civilians. Two days later, the Séléka retaliated in Gaga, 

targeting Christians. Doctors Without Borders reports that more than 100 people died in this 

fighting. Anti-balaka and Séléka attacks and counter-attacks also occurred on October 12 in 

Bomboro and on October 26 in Bouar, killing dozens. 

The increase of fighting between the Séléka and the anti-balaka falls along religious lines, and is 

so viewed by CAR’s many citizens. French UN Ambassador Gerard Araud said on November 

1, “More and more you have inter-sectarian violence because the Séléka targeted the churches and 

the Christians, so now the Christians have created self-defense militias and they are retaliating 

against the Muslims.” The BBC reports that displaced residents of the Bozizé’s hometown of 

Bossangoa have fled to their co-religionists and that the town is split in half into Muslim-Christian 

areas. Displaced Christian Bossangoa residents also reported to the BBC that they fear if they 

leave their refuge in the Christian Mission that the Séléka fighters will identify them as Christian 

and detain, beat, shoot or kill them. Muslim residents report carrying weapons with them at all 

times. Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders report that on September 29, Séléka 

soldiers executed two Christians south of Bossangoa and on October 4, anti-Balaka separated eight 

Muslims from a group of travelers between Bangui and Bossangoa and shot them. 

U.S. government and the international community response 

The United Nations, AU, ECCAS, and France have led the international response to the crisis in 

the Central African Republic. The African Union plans to deploy a 3,600-member peacekeeping 

mission, the International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA), in the 

country. This force would incorporate ECCAS soldiers already on the ground, but will not be fully 

operational before 2014. The Security Council on October 10 adopted a resolution asking UN 

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to outline “detailed options for international support to MISCA, 

including the possible option of a transformation of MISCA into a United Nations peacekeeping 

operation, subject to appropriate conditions on the ground.” In October, the Security Council 

approved a plan by the Secretary General to send 250 military personnel to Bangui plus 560 troops 

to be deployed outside the capital where there is a UN presence. France plans to have a small 

force of 700 soldiers in Bangui by the end of the year, but only to secure the airport and its local 

interests. 

The U.S. government supports UN, AU, and ECCAS efforts to bring stability to the CAR; 

condemns the ongoing gross human rights abuses and insecurity; calls for the transitional 

government to move toward elections in 2015 and adopt a new constitution to bring democracy to 

the country; and funds humanitarian assistance operations in and outside of CAR. The U.S. 

government condemned the Séléka’s seizure of power in March, followed by Djotodia’s selfappointment as president, and his decisions to end the transitional governance structures 

implemented by the Libreville Agreement. It primarily works with the Prime Minister. The U.S. 

government closed its Embassy in Bangui in December 2012 for security reasons and the Embassy 

remains closed. A Senior Advisor is in place, however, to address the crisis. 

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