Central African Republic

Country Overview

CIA World Factbook

Targeted Groups	Perpetrators	Alert Status	Genocide Stage(s)
Muslims Fulani (Mbororo) Muslims Christians Civilians in mining areas Women and girls CAR government forces	Christian Anti-Balaka militias The Wagner Group Séléka rebel factions Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement (CPC) and its affiliates CAR Government, its security forces and foreign mercenaries allies	Emergency	Stage 5: Organization, Stage 6: Polarization, Stage 8: Persecution, Stage 9: Extermination

Details

After years of marginalization, the predominantly Muslim Séléka rebels seized power in 2013, sparking the rise of anti-Balaka militias claiming to defend Christian communities. Both sides have committed widespread human rights abuses; however, Muslim civilians have been disproportionately targeted, with an estimated 80% driven from the country. Within the Muslim population, Fulani (Mbororo) Muslims have faced particular targeting, often viewed as “foreigners” and insurgents.

Since the December 2020 elections, former rivals from the Séléka and anti-Balaka factions have formed unlikely alliances under coalitions such as the Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement (CPC) to oppose the current government. These armed groups, along with Russian Wagner mercenaries supporting the government, have been implicated in massacres, sexual violence, and other crimes against humanity.