While most people in the world are celebrating the New Year peacefully, uncertainty surrounds the future of the Central African Republic as Seleka rebel forces advance on the capital Bangui. The streets have been eerily quiet under curfew conditions the past few days. The rebels started their movement some three weeks ago near the border with Chad, and so far they have met with little resistance from the government army.
The Central African Republic’s army is under-resourced, under-trained and under-paid, leaving the soldiers demoralised and, as often happens in poor countries, in a position of having to find their own income by extorting it from others. Consequently the soldiers have no particular reason to be loyal to the current government, and every reason to be interested in any opportunities which might enhance their meagre income.
Approximately 80% of the country’s population identifies as Christian, while the other 20% is split evenly between indigenous religion and Islam. The rebels are said to be predominantly Muslim. Many fear the possibility of a Muslim takeover, while on the other hand Muslims are now lying in fear of their non-Muslim neighbours who have been forming anti-Muslim vigilante groups. For the moment, uncertainty prevails.