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Anti-balaka
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Anti-balaka
The Anti-balaka is an alliance[citation needed] of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said by The Guardian to be composed primarily of Christians, but also some Muslims. The Tony Blair Faith Foundation and journalist Andrew Katz have noted that animists also participate in Anti-balaka groups.
Anti-balaka formed in the Central African Republic after the rise to power of Michel Djotodia in 2013. Amnesty International reported in 2015 that some members of anti-balaka groups had forcibly converted Muslims to Christianity. Anti-balaka leaders have also been present at torture sessions of people accused of being witches in public ceremonies, and the Anti-balaka have been accused of extorting money with witchcraft accusations, according to an internal UN report.
A proposed origin for "anti-Balaka" is as claimed:
[It is] from the language of the young illiterates, who formed Seleka's armed opposition, and who chased the Muslim 'anti-balles à ti laka' (anti ti laka bullets). The term 'laka' in the street language of the Central African Republic means an AK-47. The anti-balakas are therefore the bearers of grigris meant to stop Kalashnikov bullets.
According to Human Rights Watch, Congolese peacekeeping forces operating under the auspices of the UN murdered a number of Anti-balaka, including a mass murder of 12 people, and tortured others.
Some commentators have said that village militias formed in the 1990s to protect against highwaymen were a precursor to the Antibalaka. Unable to provide security throughout the remote areas of the country, President François Bozizé organized, self-protection groups in 2009 to combat crime on the village level; these took the name Antibalaka.
In March 2013, Bozizé (a Christian) was overthrown by a coup during the Central African Republic Civil War by a mostly Muslim rebel coalition known as Séléka. The leader of the Séléka, Michel Djotodia, became the first Muslim president of the country. With the disbanding of the army by Djotodia, many army members joined the militia, boosting their numbers and helping train them.
Djotodia announced the dissolution of the Séléka in September 2013, but most of the militias refused to disband. The Séléka and the anti-balaka engaged in a cycle of increasing violence.
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Anti-balaka
The Anti-balaka is an alliance[citation needed] of militia groups based in the Central African Republic in the early 21st century said by The Guardian to be composed primarily of Christians, but also some Muslims. The Tony Blair Faith Foundation and journalist Andrew Katz have noted that animists also participate in Anti-balaka groups.
Anti-balaka formed in the Central African Republic after the rise to power of Michel Djotodia in 2013. Amnesty International reported in 2015 that some members of anti-balaka groups had forcibly converted Muslims to Christianity. Anti-balaka leaders have also been present at torture sessions of people accused of being witches in public ceremonies, and the Anti-balaka have been accused of extorting money with witchcraft accusations, according to an internal UN report.
A proposed origin for "anti-Balaka" is as claimed:
[It is] from the language of the young illiterates, who formed Seleka's armed opposition, and who chased the Muslim 'anti-balles à ti laka' (anti ti laka bullets). The term 'laka' in the street language of the Central African Republic means an AK-47. The anti-balakas are therefore the bearers of grigris meant to stop Kalashnikov bullets.
According to Human Rights Watch, Congolese peacekeeping forces operating under the auspices of the UN murdered a number of Anti-balaka, including a mass murder of 12 people, and tortured others.
Some commentators have said that village militias formed in the 1990s to protect against highwaymen were a precursor to the Antibalaka. Unable to provide security throughout the remote areas of the country, President François Bozizé organized, self-protection groups in 2009 to combat crime on the village level; these took the name Antibalaka.
In March 2013, Bozizé (a Christian) was overthrown by a coup during the Central African Republic Civil War by a mostly Muslim rebel coalition known as Séléka. The leader of the Séléka, Michel Djotodia, became the first Muslim president of the country. With the disbanding of the army by Djotodia, many army members joined the militia, boosting their numbers and helping train them.
Djotodia announced the dissolution of the Séléka in September 2013, but most of the militias refused to disband. The Séléka and the anti-balaka engaged in a cycle of increasing violence.
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