Central African Republic

Séléka is a coalition of rebel groups working to overthrow the government of the Central African Republic. The coalition is composed of the groups; the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity, the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP), the Patriotic Convention for the Salvation of Kodro, Union of Republican Forces, and the Alliance for the Rebirth and Rebuilding. It is said by analysts of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change that many of the members of Séléka are from the North of the country, where diamond artistry and trading was the most common occupation. When President Bozizé attempted to centralize the diamond market in the Central African Republic, many men working in this market took issue with the government and thus Séléka, began to form. The group has also attracted persons not native to the Central African Republic, mostly other Africans from neighboring countries with interests in the political endeavors of the country.

There are a handful of international actors active in the Central African Republic. Among the most prevalent are the United Nations, the African Union, France, the European Union, and Russia. The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic, MINUSCA, was established in September 2007 and has provided peacekeeping and police personnel despite the deliberate target of international aid workers by rebel groups. The mission has helped increased security within the country. Russia and France have also been aiding in the security of the country by supplying military advisors and support, in the form of troops, to the CAR government and military forces. The European Union has imposed economic sanctions on the country’s government following coups by rebel forces and has since provided military missions and aid to the country on an and off since the early 2000s. The African Union provides diplomatic guidance in the form of observers in elections and by facilitating the negotiation of cease-fire agreements between the government and rebel forces. In addition to diplomatic assistance, the AU, in collaboration with the United Nations, also provides humanitarian aid to the country through food and the management of housing for displaced persons. Finally, international non-governmental organizations such as The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) are also sent in observers to ensure fair and legitimate democratic elections within the country.