Disaster needs analysis: Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) has been in the midst of an escalating emergency since 5-6 December 2013, when fighting between rival armed groups in the capital, Bangui, left at least 1,000 people dead. Fighting, led by a northeastern coalition of armed militia known as Seleka, initially broke out in CAR in December 2012. The Seleka fighters, the majority of whom are Muslim, then seized power in a coup in Bangui on 24 March 2013 and the coalition leader was installed as CAR’s interim President. After disbanding the Seleka in response to international pressure in September, the short-lived President was eventually removed from office in late 2013 while fighting intensified. In response to ongoing attacks by ex-Seleka fighters against the mostly non-Muslim civilian population, ‘self-defence’ militias known as Anti-Balaka have mobilised as the crisis took a turn for the worse.