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What Drives the Violence in the Central African Republic

Jul 26, 2016 | 09:00 GMT

What Drives the Violence in the Central African Republic
French soldiers patrol Bangui as part of peacekeeping efforts in the Central African Republic in 2015. The last of the peacekeeping force is set to depart the country in October despite a recent surge in violence there.

(PACOME PABANDJI/AFP/Getty Images)

Even with a freely elected government in place, the Central African Republic has its share of troubles. Years of warfare have left an array of militant groups in the country, with little more than a weak police force to keep them in check. Since the March election of President Faustin Archange Touadera, murders, kidnappings and looting in the country's capital have become more frequent, and reports indicate that since early June 2016, more than 6,000 people have fled the Central African Republic for Cameroon to the east and Chad to the north. Meanwhile, the French forces that have helped stabilize the war-torn region are still steadily withdrawing. ...