The Crisis in the Central African Republic by William Daniels

3 minute read
A young girl whose family member Fleuri Doumana, 21, was killed 2 days before by a grenade launched by a member of the Seleka. The rebel group that took power in March 2013 carries out numerous exactions such as murders, kidnapping, torture... Bangui.
A young girl whose family member, 21-year-old Fleuri Doumana, was killed two days previous by a grenade launched by a member of the Séléka.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
By Ishaan Tharoor

Africa is a continent brimming with stories insufficiently told in the West. But in a year where we’ve followed the French intervention in Mali, the gruesome shopping mall terror attack in Nairobi, the ceaseless conflicts of the Congo and the brutal ravages of Nigeria’s Boko Haram insurgency, one tragic crisis has been almost completely absent from international frontpages: in the Central African Republic, a nation located where it says it is, virtually the entire population of 4.6 million people is “enduring suffering beyond imagination,” according to the U.N.

After an alliance of rebel groups known as Séléka seized power in March from the government of President François Bozizé, the mineral-rich yet dirt-poor state fell into chaos. Rival factions carried out kidnappings, murders, rapes and went about conscripting child soldiers. African peacekeeping troops and government forces proved hapless and helpless. The humanitarian situation grew dire, with political instability compounding existing crises — some 1.5 million people, a third of the country, are now in critical need of food, shelter and basic sanitation.

Moreover, the ongoing violence has taken on a grim — and, for the Central African Republic, unprecedented — sectarian dimension. Many of the Séléka fighters are reportedly Muslim, some of them having joined the fight from neighboring Chad and Sudan. Muslim-Christian clashes in September led to over 100 deaths; Christian self-defense groups known as anti-balaka (or “anti-machete”) militias have sprung up. Communities of both faiths have been uprooted, scattered, forced to flee their homes. The French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius warned last week that the Central African Republic “is on the verge of genocide.”

The U.N. is set to meet soon to discuss dispatching thousands of peacekeepers to the country. France, the former colonial power, is preparing to triple the troop numbers it has stationed in the capital Bangui. Relief agencies are calling for tens of millions of dollars in urgent humanitarian assistance.

With the conflict poised on a knife edge, French photojournalist William Daniels traveled on assignment to the Central African Republic. He passed through funerals, refugee camps and bands of men with guns. In many of his photos, there is a sense of shock and grief—the mute horror of a nation tearing at its own seams. It’s hard to watch, but it would be more shameful to look away.

William Daniels is a photographer represented by Panos Pictures. Daniels previously wrote for TIME about his escape from Syria.

Ishaan Tharoor is a Senior Editor at TIME and Editor of TIME World. Follow him on Twitter @ishaantharoor.

People demonstrate violently in a street in Bangui asking for the president Djotodia to step down, following the murder of a magistrate shot dead the night before along with another man. 30 minutes later the Seleka came and shot towards the demonstrators, killing 2 men and wounded one.
The following photographs were taken on assignment for TIME between Nov. 14-21, 2013. People demonstrate violently in the street in Bangui, demanding that President Djotodia steps down following the murder of a magistrate shot dead the night before. 30 minutes later, the Séléka arrived and fired into the crowd, killing two men and wounded one.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
A young girl whose family member Fleuri Doumana, 21, was killed 2 days before by a grenade launched by a member of the Seleka. The rebel group that took power in March 2013 carries out numerous exactions such as murders, kidnapping, torture... Bangui.
A young girl whose family member, 21-year-old Fleuri Doumana, was killed two days previous by a grenade launched by a member of the Séléka.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
Army soldiers cry the death of colleague who was shot dead by Seleka members the night before. Bangui.
Army soldiers cry following the death of a colleague who was shot dead by Séléka members the night before.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
Antibalakas (christian self defense group) and villagers walking in the bush to reach the safe place where they stay for several months, between Bossangoa and Bossembelé. They left their village because of the Seleka violences. Antibalakas first took arms to protect their families from the Seleka exactions (murder, rape, robbery). But some decided to take revenge over the muslims community as the Seleka is made only of muslim men, which made the tensions between the 2 communities getting very bad.
Antibalakas (a Christian self-defense group) and villagers walk in the bush to reach safety between Bossangoa and Bossembelé, fleeing their village because of violence. Antibalakas first took up arms to protect their families from the Seleka's wake of murder, rape and robbery. But some decided to take revenge on the surrounding Muslim communities because the Séléka is often populated by Muslims.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
Antibalakas (christian self defense group) and villagers in the bush between Bossangoa and Bossembelé. They left their village because of the Seleka violences and hide and live now with very low food, water and access to health. Children suffer from malnutrition and malaria.Antibalakas first took arms to protect their families from the Seleka exactions (murder, rape, robbery). But some decided to take revenge over the muslims community as the Seleka is made only of muslim men, which made the tensions between the 2 communities getting very bad.
Antibalakas march in the bush between Bossangoa and Bossembelé. William Daniels—Panos for TIME
Family members of army soldier Tanguy Residou shot dead by members of the Seleka cry during his funeral. The man was a nephew of the president Bozizé. Murders and others exactions made by the Seleka are increasing in the country. Bangui.
Family members of army soldier Tanguy Residou cry during his funeral. The man was a nephew of President Bozizé.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
The Family of army soldier Tanguy Residou shot dead by members of the Seleka wait at the Morgue to collect the body for funeral. The man was a nephew of the president Bozizé. Murders and others exactions made the Seleka are increasing in the country. Bangui.
The Family of army soldier Tanguy Residou, who was shot dead by members of the Séléka, wait at the morgue to collect the body for funeral. William Daniels—Panos for TIME
CAR army soldiers carry the body of a colleague assassinated by members of the Seleka . The man, Tanguy Residou, was a nephew of the president Bozizé. Murders and others exactions made by the Seleka are increasing in the country. Bangui.
CAR army soldiers carry the coffin of Tanguy Residou in Bangui.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
Army soldiers cry the death of colleague Tanguy Residou, who was shot dead by Seleka members. The man as a nephew of former president Bozizé. Bangui.
Fellow soldiers grieve over Residou's casket.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
Army soldiers and family members walk on the main road in Central Bangui with the body of a man who was shot dead by Seleka members. They then demonstrated shooting "enough is enough". Murders became frequent since the last 2 weeks in Bangui.
Army soldiers and family members walk on the main road in Central Bangui with the body of a man who was shot dead by Séléka members.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
A relative cry the death of a military who was shot dead by Seleka members the night before. Bangui.
A relative cries over the death of a soldier shot dead by Séléka members the night before in Bangui.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
In Bossangoa, about 40 000 displaced people, mostly christians who left their village attacked by the Seleka, took refuge around the cathedral. The people live there with low access to health, very low food and in bad sanitary conditions.
In Bossangoa, many Christians fled their villages after attacks by the Séléka, taking refuge around the cathedral. The people live there with minimal access to healthcare and adequate food and often live in poor sanitary conditions.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
The camps contain more than 40,000 displaced people.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
One child suffering of malnutrition and malaria in MSF (doctors without borders) hospital in Bossangoa. There are about 40 000 IDPs in Bossangoa, mostly christians, who left their village because of violences committed by the Seleka and Antibalaka group. Malnutrition and malaria are the main health problem affecting children on a country that was already badly affected by chronic humanitarian crisis.
A child suffering of malnutrition and malaria in a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Bossangoa.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
Mothers and their malnourished children queuing for consultation at MSF hospital in Bossangoa. All of them are suffering from acute malnutrition caused by the lack of food in the city and the difficulties that faces NGO to bring food in Bossangoa. Many children spent several month hiding in the bush to flew violences made mostly by the Seleka but also by the Antibalakas.
Mothers and their malnourished children wait for treatment at a hospital in Bossangoa. Many children spent several month hiding in the bush to escape the violence.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
In Bossangoa, about 40 000 displaced people, mostly christians who left their village attacked by the Seleka, took refuge around the cathedral. The people live there with low access to health, very low food and in bad sanitary conditions.
In the displacement camps, refugees live in incredibly poor conditions, lacking proper access to medical care.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
About 1500 muslims displaced who fled their village and took refuge in a school in Bossangoa. Their village was attacked by antibalaka group (christian self defense group) who replied to attacks and looting from Seleka members. In Bossangoa, there are about 40 000 displaced people, mostly christians, who left their village attacked by the Seleka or the antibalaka. The people live there with low access to health, very low food and in bad sanitary conditions.
About 1500 Muslims fled the violence near their villages, taking refuge in a school in Bossangoa.William Daniels—Panos for TIME
One child suffering of malnutrition and malaria in MSF (doctors without borders) hospital in Bossangoa. There are about 40 000 IDPs in Bossangoa, mostly christians, who left their village because of violences committed by the Seleka and Antibalaka group. Malnutrition and malaria are the main health problem affecting children on a country that was already badly affected by chronic humanitarian crisis.
Malnutrition and malaria are the main health problems affecting children in a country that was already badly affected by chronic humanitarian crisis before the violence.William Daniels—Panos for TIME

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