Ever darker

By G.P. | ABUJA

THE humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) is rapidly deteriorating as Séléka rebels fight an increasingly violent conflict with rival militias. International support is trickling in slowly but the country, one of the world’s poorest, is becoming ever more chaotic. Nearly 400,000 people are thought to be seeking refuge in the CAR's thick bush and forests.

Séléka, meaning “alliance” in Sango, one of the languages of the former French colony, has ruled the country with brutality since it ousted the former president, François Bozizé, in March. Rebel leader Michel Djotodia took over the presidency in April, after a three-month advance from Séléka’s stronghold in the north to Bangui, the capital, in the south. Since then the situation in the landlocked, mineral-rich nation of 4.6m people has continued to worsen.

Vigilante militia groups across the country known as “anti-balaka”, meaning anti-sword or anti-machete, have emerged in reaction to Séléka's rampages and are waging their resistance mainly in the north. Other resistance factions include an anti-Séléka peasant movement called the Association of Central African Farmers, and the Front for the Return to the Constitutional Order in Central Africa, which was formed by Mr Bozizé in Paris in August and is made up of ex-army officers loyal to the former president.

Fighting has intensified since September and ethnic and religious divides between the CAR’s Muslim minority and the Christian majority have widened. At a UN security meeting on November 1st, senior diplomats warned that the mounting violence between rival militias could lead to genocide. But the crisis is not driven by religion alone. Though the Séléka forces came from the largely Muslim north, many of those who joined the group during its voyage south to oust the sitting president were opportunists, bandits and mercenaries.

Mr Djotodia lacks authority over the forces that brought him to power. Séléka continues to pillage and kill, despite his orders for the group to disband and lay down its weapons. The 1,100-strong regional force now in place will not be enough to restore peace. Though France has pledged to send another 300 troops by December to add to the 400 who currently guard the airport at Bangui, it is reluctant to become embroiled in yet another African conflict. And despite plans by the African Union and the UN to send 3,600 and up to 560 men respectively, the situation in the fragile country looks likely to deteriorate further.