African securityUN approves intervention in Central African Republic as violence rages

Ammunition cache ready for use as violence escalates // Source: presstv.ir

The UN Security Council yesterday voted for a resolution, put forward by France, which authorized an African Union-led peacekeeping force to intervene in the Central African Republic to prevent the growing chaos from causing the state to disintegrate.

The AU force, with the support of French forces, will protect civilians, restore humanitarian access, and stabilize the country. CNN reports that the council also voted to impose an arms embargo on the Central African Republic.

A representative of CAR told the council the vote would “give reasons to hope for a new dawn” for the country’s embattled population.

Speaking after the vote, U.S. ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said the U.S. government was “deeply disturbed” by ongoing reports of brutality in the nation.

“It is clear that urgent action is needed to save lives,” she said, adding that the crisis has affected nearly half the country’s population.

Violence has been widespread in the country since a coalition of rebels ousted President Francois Bozize in March, the latest in an endless series of coups which have characterized the country’s political life since the nation gained independence from France in 1960.

The population of the Central African Republic is 4.5 million, of which about 50 percent are Christians, and 15 percent are Muslims. About 35 percent of the population holds indigenous and animist beliefs.

Since its independence, the Central African Republic has been ruled by a succession of brutal and corrupt leaders, many of whom arriving in power through military coups.

The rulers all came from the Christian majority, a point which members of the Muslim minority have not failed to notice. In 2006, dissatisfied Muslim militias began a low-level campaign against the central regime, gaining control of a few small towns.

The government of François Bozizé asked France for military assistance, and the French sent about 400 troops to shore up the government’s military situation. France also sent a few of its fighter jets to help chase the Muslim rebels away.

Efforts at a power-sharing agreement between the government and the rebels were partially successful, and the country was relatively quiet until 2011, when presidential elections were held. Bozizé won reelections, but the Muslim community – and outside observers – charged the election, marked by violence and disorder, was fraudulent.

The power-sharing arrangement collapsed, and the various Muslim militias, now working together under an umbrella coalition called Séléka, took on the regime in earnest.