The Central African Republic is facing the risk of genocide according to a UN humanitarian official. In addition, over 6,000 child soldiers may now be involved in the conflict as well. Their numbers are growing as clashes between Muslim and Christian communities increase.
The country has been in turmoil for a year after rebels launched attacks and forced President François Bozizé to flee. Around 950,000 people have been displaced by the fighting and widespread human rights violations including extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, mutilations and rape have been reported.
John Ging, director of operations for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs just returned from the Central African Republic.
“It has all the elements that we have seen elsewhere, in places like Rwanda and Bosnia. The elements are there, the seeds are there, for a genocide. There’s no question about that.”
He expressed that genocide may be avoided if the international community responds quickly to the crisis taking place.
