C.A.R. facing food crisis, looks to region for aid

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On Wednesday, new clashes between government forces and armed rebels threatened South Sudan’s precarious stability. Across the country’s western border, in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.), a largely overshadowed conflict rages on as well. Three months after the March coup that overthrew C.A.R. President François Bozizé’s government, human rights watchdogs are reporting that the Seleka rebels have grown more numerous, and more violent.

Also Wednesday, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) reported that Seleka militants have committed 400 murders in 3 months, and that Central African, Chadian, and Sudanese warlords now rule much of the country. As a result of their campaigns of rape, kidnappings, looting and arson, most foreign medical staff and NGOs have fled, plunging C.A.R. into a severe health crisis. FIDH’s assessment echoes a June warning issued by Human Rights Watch, as well as a report released by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) last week: Central African Republic: Abandoned to its fate?. And though the interim government — ruled by former Seleka leader Michel Djotodia — launched a disarmament campaign on July 1, the rebel coalition’s rank-and-file, originally estimated at 5,000, has spiked to three or four times that number. It is unclear whether Djotodia’s regime supports the rebels, or (more likely) has lost control over the coalition, which has integrated foreign militants. (This among growing internal dissent within the interim administration.) Either way, Djotodia has chosen to minimize the situation: on Monday, the interim president claimed that “security has returned” to C.A.R., and blamed members of the Lord’s Resistance Army for any residual unrest.

Despite the dire situation — malnutrition rates have skyrocketed, and some 200,000 people have fled the country — external aid remains scarce. Apart from a brief and ill-fated South African deployment and a small African peacekeeping force, there is no real regional support. Not since C.A.R. was suspended from the African Union (AU), had its assets frozen, and was cut off from development aid in March — a not uncommon AU response following domestic coups. Even C.A.R.’s failsafe resort has, well, failed: on May 15, the interim government called on its former colonial ruler, France, for aid. But despite past military support — C.A.R. has seen a number of violent coups — the Elysée said no. Largely because it was embroiled in a Mali campaign that brought a much-needed political win for French President François Hollande, albeit a less clear-cut military one. (Though France’s National Assembly congratulated itself Wednesday for an “undeniable military victory.”)

Luckily, Europe (apart from France) has taken a renewed interest in the C.A.R. as of late, pledging a $6.1 million aid package on Friday. Too little, too late, perhaps — even E.U. Commissioner Kristalina Georgiev noted the sum was insufficient. The United Nations also pledged to boost aid on July 12; however, only 31% of previously requested aid funds have been disbursed to date. With militant groups swelling, and food insecurity compounding and possibly exceeding the threat they pose, C.A.R. can ill afford to wait for an influx of foreign cash. Djotodia has returned to regional leaders for help. On Monday, the C.A.R. leader visited Burkino Faso to request funds. He received an official welcome — good for his regime’s legitimacy — but no concrete pledge. So with famine looming, Djotodia’s African tour continues. Next up: Benin.