Menu

United States Institute of Peace

Home ▶ Events

Creating a Stable Peace in the Central African Republic

What steps can the international community take to prevent the escalation of violence?

Date: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 / Time: 12:00pm - 1:30pm 

Center: Middle East North Africa Center

Share This
Print the Page

Despite holding the country’s first peaceful, democratic elections in 2015-2016, the Central African Republic continues to suffer from violent conflict. Tensions escalated back to crisis levels in the capital on April 8, following Operation Sukula, a United Nations peacekeeping operation to arrest armed elements in the capital’s Muslim neighborhood that reignited fears of persecution, prompting retaliatory violence and a call to action by armed factions. The situation remains tenuous as armed actors, the CAR government, and international organizations weigh their options and consider the ramifications for the larger peace process. The international community must address the root causes of conflict to bring about de-escalation and cohesion in order to prevent further violence.

event at library of congress
Photo: UN/MINUSCA - Hervé Serefio

Since gaining independence from France in 1960, CAR has suffered from chronic instability, and experienced several violent transitions of power. Efforts by the international community to halt the violence during previous crises have failed to provide a long-term, sustainable peace because they didn’t address the structural, educational and attitudinal gaps that prevent the state from responding to the needs of its citizens. With the increase in attacks over the past year, CAR has become one of the deadliest countries for aid workers in the world and attained a record 1.1 million displaced and refugees.

Please join the U.S. Institute of Peace and the United Nations Foundation for a discussion on the issues facing CAR, and how the International Community can work together to develop a strong infrastructure to support a lasting peace. Engage in the conversation on Twitter with #CPRF.

Since 1999, the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum (CPRF) has provided a monthly platform in Washington for highlighting innovative and constructive methods of conflict resolution. CPRF’s goals are to (1) provide information from a wide variety of perspectives; (2) explore possible solutions to complex conflicts; and (3) provide a secure venue for stakeholders from various disciplines to engage in cross-sector and multi-track problem-solving. The CPRF is traditionally hosted at SAIS and organized by the Conflict Management Program in conjunction with Search for Common Ground and is co-sponsored by a consortium of organizations that specialize in conflict resolution and/or public policy formulation. This event is co-hosted by the United Nations Foundation.

Speakers

Chandrima Das, Opening Remarks
Director, Peacekeeping Policy, United Nations Foundation, Opening Remarks

Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Keynote Address      
Special Representative and Head of MINUSCA

Dr. Reyn Archer
Chief of Staff, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry

Neal Kringel
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO), U.S. Department of State

Rudy Massamba
Program Officer for Central Africa, National Endowment for Democracy

Susan Stigant
Director of Africa Programs, U.S. Institute of Peace 

Related Publications

As Security Returns, Central Africans Await the State

As Security Returns, Central Africans Await the State

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

By: John Lechner

In early February, five Central African friends and I hopped in a weathered Toyota pickup and retraced most of Route Nationale 3 (RN3), which runs through the Central African Republic’s (CAR) northwest from Baoro to the capital Bangui. Connecting Cameroon’s Douala and Bangui, the RN3 corridor accounts for 80 percent of internationally traded goods in CAR.

Type: Blog

Justice, Security & Rule of Law

Dialogues nationaux sur la consolidation de la paix et les transitions créativité et pensée adaptative

Dialogues nationaux sur la consolidation de la paix et les transitions créativité et pensée adaptative

Monday, December 13, 2021

By: Elizabeth Murray ;   Susan Stigant

Dans le meilleur des cas, les processus de dialogue national promettent d’apporter un élan décisif à la transformation inclusive du conflit. Ce rapport examine les dialogues dans six pays: la République Centrafricaine, le Kenya, le Liban, le Sénégal, la Tunisie et le Yémen. Ces divers processus montrent les possibilités de favoriser le dialogue, de forger des accords et de progresser vers la paix; et le rapport offre des conseils détaillés sur les possibilités et les aspects pratiques pour ceux qui envisagent d'organiser un dialogue national.

Type: Peaceworks

Mediation, Negotiation & Dialogue

Beyond Fake News: the Central African Republic’s Hate Speech Problem

Beyond Fake News: the Central African Republic’s Hate Speech Problem

Monday, August 16, 2021

By: Brianna Ferebee ;   Rachel Sullivan

After a recent contested election, the Central African Republic finds itself in a precarious situation. Violence around the election combined with the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 and destructive flooding have caused the humanitarian emergency to reach its worst state in five years. Meanwhile, the CAR government has been accused of engaging in Russian-backed disinformation campaigns targeting domestic civil society, French diplomats and the United Nations peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA), threatening key relationships. Even as the long-simmering issue of hate speech continues to draw fault lines through the country, efforts to combat these campaigns have focused primarily on challenging fake news rather than addressing the underlying fear and prejudice that spoilers use to stoke conflict. 

Type: Analysis

Conflict Analysis & Prevention

Central African Republic’s Disputed Elections Exacerbate Rising Tensions

Central African Republic’s Disputed Elections Exacerbate Rising Tensions

Thursday, January 7, 2021

By: Elizabeth Murray ;   Rachel Sullivan

After an election period marked by violence and rising tension, the Central African Republic’s (CAR) incumbent president, Faustin Archange Touadéra, has been re-elected, according to the country’s election commission. Days before the vote, a disparate medley of armed groups coalesced to demand the vote be postponed. Since the polls’ closing, there has been a serious spike in violence with fighting in many major towns. The political opposition as well as the newly formed armed coalition have rejected the results and have demanded a re-run election. USIP’s Elizabeth Murray and Rachel Sullivan explain what led to rising violence in the weeks before the polls, what it means for the floundering 2019 peace agreement, and where the international community stands.

Type: Analysis

Global Elections & Conflict

View All Publications