By Abayomi Azikiwe
Discontent among the people with the French-imposed government in the
capital of Bangui in the Central African Republic (CAR) has erupted in
demonstrations by both the Muslim and Christian communities.
These developments are taking place amid the increasing deployment of
foreign military forces mandated for peacekeeping operations by United
Nations Security Council and other regional bodies.
The number of troops now occupying the CAR include a bolstered French
force of 2,000 along with 6,000 personnel from regional African states
(MISCA), European Union Forces (EUFOR) of 1,000 and the impending
intervention of some 12,000 other soldiers under the rubric of the
Security Council. Nonetheless, the minority Muslim community is still
facing organized violence while more people are being forced out of
Bangui and other cities across the country.
Interim President Catherine Samba-Panza was appointed after the forced
removal at the aegis of Paris of the previous transitional leader
Michel Djotodia in January. A Muslim, Djotodia came to power in March
2013 when Seleka Coalition rebels entered Bangui without any real
opposition from French troops that were already maintaining a presence
in the CAR.
Subsequent human rights violations against the Christian community
during the rule of Seleka prompted reprisal attacks by the Anti-Balaka
forces composed of armed youth who have been accused of attacking
Muslim residents, their homes, mosques and businesses.
On May 30 people took to the streets of the capital protesting the
deteriorating security situation. Earlier in the same week 17 people
were killed in a church that was attacked while people were taking
refuge in the building.
According to CNN, ?Hundreds also came out in the streets to protest
against the international peacekeeping forces — French troops and the
MISCA forces — whom they accuse of doing too little to protect the
people. The unrest continued Friday. (May 30) The International Red
Cross described the situation in Bangui as ?fluid and somewhat
chaotic.? Its teams on the ground have received reports of injured
people in the demonstrations but are still assessing the number of
casualties, it said.? (May 30)
Foreign troops in efforts to control the demonstrations, which other
sources report to have involved thousands of people, opened fire
resulting in three demonstrators being killed by gunshot wounds.
Rather than calming the situation, the deaths of the three people
fueled anger and further unrest throughout the following week.
Text Messages Banned Amid Call for General Strike
Tensions escalated through June 6 when the current government issued a
ban on text messaging. The blocking of the technology was done to
minimize the impact of a call for a general strike in opposition to
the government and the role of so-called peacekeepers.
In an article published by the London-based Guardian newspaper, it
reports that ?Mobile phone users in the CAR who try to send texts get
the response: ?SMS not allowed.? Abdallah Assan Kadre, the
communications minister issued a statement saying ??On the instruction
of the prime minister ? in order to contribute to the restoration of
security in the country, the use of SMS by all mobile-phone
subscribers is suspended.?” (June 6)
Moreover, the Guardian continued by noting ?The clampdown came after a
mass SMS (text message) was circulated urging a general strike in
response to more than a year of conflict between Christian and Muslim
militias that has killed thousands of people. An organization called
Collectif Centrafrique Debout sent out the texts last weekend urging
people to stay at home and demanding complete disarmament, especially
of the PK5 Muslim neighborhood in the capital, Bangui.? (June 6)
Anti-French sentiment is growing both among the Christian and Muslim
populations who have been bitterly divided by the present neo-colonial
system of governance. France and other imperialist countries maintain
mining interests in the diamond, gold and uranium sectors.
On June 1 Prime Minister Andr? Nzapayeke urged people to end the
strike and mass demonstrations in order to return to work in the
capital after several days of unrest that had virtually shut down
Bangui. Nzapayeke also appealed for a voluntary national disarmament
campaign where all residents were requested to hand in their weapons
by June 8.
French troops were heckled by residents on June 7 and 8 in Miskine, a
Christian-dominated area of Bangui. In Muslim neighborhoods chants of
“No to France!” and anti-French insults are commonly shouted at the
occupying forces. (AFP, June 6)
No?l Ngoulo, the Secretary General of Bangui University, was quoted by
the AFP as saying that “When they arrived, (French troops) we had hope
that they were going to disarm the country. But as time has gone on,
the population noticed that the disarmament was delayed. People are
angry at the French because they have the impression that the mission
objective has changed, from a mission of disarmament to one of simple
intervention.” (June 6)
Recent events in the CAR illustrate that the deployment of troops from
former colonial and present imperialist countries will only further
destabilize the political situation in Africa. The United States has
provided logistical and intelligence support to the French-led
occupation of the CAR.
These foreign policy initiatives are being headed by the Pentagon
through the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) whose presence and influence
is being strengthened and enhanced by the administration of President
Barack Obama. African workers, farmers and youth will inevitably
escalate their opposition to the western military interventions being
carried out across the continent.
