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EXCLUSIVE: Central African Republic students critical of French role in conflict

Central African Republic exiles lose hope of returning home.

23.04.2014 - Update : 23.04.2014
EXCLUSIVE: Central African Republic students critical of French role in conflict

 

ISTANBUL 

By Turgut Alp Boyraz

A Central African Republic student, studying political science in Turkey, says he has no home to return to due to the sectarian violence which has swept the country.

Speaking to AA after a conference on the situation in the war-torn country held by Turkish students in Istanbul’s Marmara University on Thursday, Hassan Mahamad said the violent conflict has forced his mother and sister to flee to Sudan for safety.

“I haven’t heard from my father for the last three months. I don’t even know if he is alive or dead,” Mahamad said.

He accuses France troops for taking side in the violence between rival sectarian militias.

“French troops are disarming Muslims while other rebel groups are keeping their arms. That leaves Muslims at the mercy of the anti-balaka groups,” he adds.

The mineral-rich country descended into anarchy one year ago when Muslim seleka rebels ousted Christian President Francois Bozize, who had come to power in a 2003 coup.

Since last December, thousands of people, mostly Muslims, have been killed in sectarian bloodletting throughout the country, blamed on the anti-balaka Christian militias.

The United Nations has since reported a "cleansing" of Muslims from the country's west.

“I lost two of my cousins last month in attacks by anti-balaka militas,” Isa Ramadan - another CAR student in Turkey – told Anadolu Agency.  

Ramadan – who is from the northern province of Vakaga - said the violence is not just based on religious background, but also on ethnic differences.  

“Christians and Muslims in Vakaga belong to same tribe and lived together without any report of violence for years. But Christians from other parts of the country who belong to different ethnic backgrounds attacks the Muslim population,” said Ramadan.

"They have been telling us that we are outsiders, not from this country," he added.

The United Nations Security Council this month authorized a 12,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission to be deployed in September. 

There are currently 6,000 peacekeepers from the African peacekeeping force (MISCA) and 2,000 from France, who have so far failed to stamp their authority on the country.

Ramadan accused French troops of being there only to serve their own interests, not to bring peace to its former colony.

He said there is no chance of him being able to go back to his country.

“I will try to find a job here in Turkey and bring my family over here. If I can't find a job then I will apply as a refugee, but definitely there is no going back,” he said, adding that he was trying to save money to send to his family back home.

The UN estimates that some 2.2 million people in CAR – about half the country's total population – are in need of humanitarian assistance.

There are about thirty students from Central African Republic in Istanbul - Turkey’s largest city – both Christian and Muslim all depending on scholarships from the Turkish government.

englishnews@aa.com.tr

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