The Central African Republic has faced brutal conflict since 2012, when Séléka leader Michel Djotodia launched a successful campaign to overthrow President Michel Bozizé and anti-balaka militias responded violently.  While the conflict was not initially religiously-motivated, tensions began to follow religious lines, with Muslims suspected of supporting the Séléka and Christians seen as backing the anti-balaka.  Interim President Catherine Samba-Panza has since replaced Djotodia, and although violence has decreased since the peak of the conflict, insecurity and local violence continues in many parts of the country.  On the ground, Aegis Trust is working with local youth activists and religious leaders on reconciliation and peacebuilding, bringing along their expertise from post-genocide Rwanda. Moving forward, the U.S. government should ensure effective peacekeeping and efforts to restore security throughout the country, extensive support to IDPs and refugees, extensive peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts at the national and local level, and pressure to Chad to end its destabilizing influence on the Central African Republic.

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