The situation in the CAR demonstrates that the international community still struggles in translating early warning into timely and effective responses. This article from the Washington Post looks at the Responsibility to Protect doctrine and how it relates to recent activities in the Central African Republic. A portion of the article appears below. Click here to read the complete story.
How the world failed the Central African Republic
The Central African Republic, a landlocked country of 4.6 million people, seems ready for a fresh start. Voters went to the polls on Valentine’s Day to choose their next president, and initial reports suggest the run-off between Anicet Dologuélé and Faustin-Archange Touadéra was conducted entirely peacefully.
Peace may seem nearer on the horizon than it has been for years, but whichever candidate wins will have to confront the reality that the protracted conflict that began more than three years ago is not yet over. The warnings ignored and atrocities committed serve as proof that the international community still struggles to respond to atrocity situations, despite the tools adopted by the United Nations to protect innocent civilians.
Predatory armed groups continue to control swathes of territory, which is largely ungoverned. More than 900,000 Central Africans are still displaced, with 465,000 seeking shelter in neighboring countries and 435,000 internally dislocated. Another 2.7 million people are also in need of humanitarian assistance, and half the population faces hunger.
Click here to read the complete article.