Central African Republic Crisis

Central African Republic Map
Source: OCHA/ReliefWeb

The country

The Central African Republic, gaining independence from France in 1960, is a landlocked country within the interior of the African continent. The central African country borders Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo and Cameroon. Its capital is Bangui. The Central African Republic covers a land area of 622,984 square kilometers. As of 2022, the country had an estimated population of around 5.5 million people. The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the world’s poorest and least developed states.

The humanitarian situation

The Central African Republic (CAR) has been among the most neglected humanitarian crises for several years in a row. The CAR has been troubled by violent unrest since 2012. In 2021 and 2022 the Central African Republic saw over 100,000 new displacements, bringing the total displaced population to nearly 1.4 million people, with over 737,000 refugees fleeing to neighboring countries and over 660,000 people displaced inside the country. With nearly one-third of its population displaced, the Central African Republic is the country - behind South Sudan - with the second highest level of forced displacement in Africa.  

More than 3 million people – more than 50 % - in the Central African Republic required humanitarian assistance in 2022 according to an UN appeal.  The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says some 1.4 million children are currently in need of support. According to UNICEF, the Central African Republic is one of the toughest places in the world to be a child. The UN estimates 3.4 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2023. Flooding in the Central African Republic affected more than 100,000 people in 2022.

Central African Republic LocationThe security situation

The ongoing fighting in the Central African Republic signals a further deterioration of the peace agreement signed by the government and armed groups in 2019. Despite the February 2019 peace agreement, the security situation in the country remains precarious, and armed groups continue to control large parts of the Central African Republic's territory.  Violence and insecurity resurfaced after the December 2020 parliamentary elections. Fierce clashes between armed groups have led to increasing suffering and deaths.  

In 2022 the Central African Armed Forces consolidated their control over the major urban centers. In rural areas, however, armed groups continue to perpetrate robberies, looting, illegal taxation, and extortion. Armed groups and government forces have been involved in violent incidents and human rights abuses against civilians. Last year saw new displacements in areas where violent clashes occurred, while return movements of displaced persons continued to be concentrated in urban areas.

However, insecurity and attacks against civilians, humanitarians, and UN peacekeeping forces continue. While relief agencies are working to help people affected by the conflict, the ongoing fighting and logistical constraints have impeded humanitarian efforts, particularly in the more remote areas of CAR.

Donations

Your donation for the Central African Republic emergency can help United Nations agencies, international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their local partners to rapidly provide water, food, medicine, shelter and other aid to the people who need it most.

Further Information

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