The Mettaboy Report

Before the peak of senseless violence in the CAR hit international headlines, dysfunctions of the country were on steroids: at work since 1960 when it had independence from France. Through steady breakdown of the economy, the ingredients for state collapse were falling into place, in a way that the world barely noticed.         A blessing While the landlocked CAR falls under the group of least developed countries, it is richly blessed by nature. Below and above its top soil, lies a range of globally demanded economic resources. As one of the top-20 most-fiscally dependent economies on natural resources in sub-Saharan Africa, export of diamonds and timber are one of the biggest drivers of its economic growth. From 2005-2010, over 40 percent of the country’s exports were from extractive industries. Other important components of the economy are subsistence farming with 28.3 percent, and livestock agriculture 12.7 percent of GDP. The ...

While the security situation remains volatile, the 6000 African Union-led peace keepers (MISCA)   supported by  French soldiers (2000) and recently added European Union forces  (500), have prevented already dire situation from getting even worst. Backed by a Security Council resolution, MISCA has led efforts to provide security to the war-torn country since January 2014.  The AU-led Mission has recorded some encouraging results: In coordination with France-led Operation Sangaris including EUFOR-RCA, MISCA has played a decisive role in restoring basic security: enabled the new transitional Government to undertake its work, ensured freedom of movement of international actors, secured key installations and sites of internally displaced persons, protected national and international stakeholders including members of the transitional institutions. The peace keepers have also disarmed and cantoned some ex-Seleka elements as well as collected arms and improved secu...

                          It seems God has taken his leave, away from the Central African Republic. The ceaseless images of unspeakable killings in the news, indeed rarely leaves one indifferent. While the causes are deeper, many analysts take the easy road, framing the crisis as a Christian-Muslim divide. More than one hundred days in office, its usual to take stock of a new Government's progress and future directions.                             Someone seems---in----charge While the CAR political landscape remains fluid and difficult to predict, the coming of the new Government in January 2014—the third within a year—appears to have refocused impetus on the transition process which expires in February 2015. Building on the Libreville Political Accord (LPD) agreed to by the major political parties and politico-military groups to end host...