New Report on Central African Republic: The Bangui Carousel
Posted by Enough Team on Aug 02, 2016
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This blog contains excerpts from the full report. Click here to read
or download the full report.
Today, the Enough Project released its latest report, The Bangui
Carousel. In it, authors argue that the recycling and maintenance of a
small group of elites—regardless of leadership at the top—combined
with the absence of effective state institutions is a fundamental
feature of government in the Central African Republic (CAR), and
addressing that system is critical to combatting the structural roots
of the country’s persistent instability.
"It is time to bring the Bangui Carousel described in this report
to an end. On the Carousel, elites cycle through regime after regime
within a system marked by weak governance structures that enable these
elites to exploit their positions for personal benefit. President
Touadéra and the international community must learn from these lessons
of the past and institute reforms that ensure a more transparent and
accountable structure, one that can finally govern for the benefit of
all the people." - Brad Brooks-Rubin, Director of Policy at the Enough
Project
In February 2016, current President Faustin Archange Touadéra was
elected, marking a possible new beginning for CAR and opening a moment
of hope that the country could find a path toward stabilization.
Encouraging signs, such as the endorsement of Touadéra by political
opponents, indicate the possibility of a positive trajectory for CAR.
However, the country is still a long way from stability. Armed groups
and criminal gangs continue to destabilize the countryside,
controlling valuable mining areas and commercial towns. More than 2
million people, or half of the country’s population, are experiencing
hunger; close to 415,000 people remain internally displaced, and
467,000 refugees are only slowly trickling back.
The report asserts why, if policymakers fail to address the structural
issues that led to the crisis in CAR, the country is likely to repeat
its violent past. The Bangui Carousel notes how successive rulers in
CAR have maintained authority largely by centralizing control where
possible, and extended personal rule by dispensing patronage in return
for political support, in particular by personally appointing to
senior posts those who served in previous governments or trusted
family members.
“The people do not trust the politicians and the transitional
government; they are all the same. The political elite have power and
money, but all they do is to put their own friends and family in front
of the population.” – Local Civil Society Leader, Bangui, July 2015
To illustrate patterns of elite recycling, the term “Bangui Carousel”
embodies the pattern of appointments to government ministries since
early 2013. The authors developed an overview of the members in each
government and their inter-connections, followed by an analysis of
some of the individuals who have participated in or benefited from the
Bangui Carousel - how groups and individuals gain access and benefit
from the system at the expense of CAR’s citizens.
To disrupt, and eventually stop, the entirety of the Carousel, the
report asserts that accountability and effective governance must exist
in CAR. A way forward to accomplish this in part is addressed in the
report’s recommendations, detailed more fully in the paper itself:
The CAR government must establish robust and independent
anti-corruption institutions
The CAR government must prioritize transparency in natural
resource revenues, contracting, and spending to prevent corruption –
working with donors and international institutions for assistance.
The U.N. Security Council, U.S. Government, and European Union
should impose targeted sanctions and strengthen enforcement against
those who undermine peace
The CAR government, United States, European Union, and the U.N.
Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central
African Republic (MINUSCA) should ensure that the restart of the
Kimberley Process (KP) prevents the flow of conflict diamonds and that
voices of Central African civil society are included at all stages of
the KP decision making process in CAR.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) process
should restart in CAR; when fully implemented, the EITI can help to to
make resource revenues more transparent.
International donors such as the U.S. government, the European
Union, and the World Bank should work to strengthen the judiciary in
CAR and promote Special Criminal Court prosecutions.
The new CAR government and international institutions should help
improve capacity and safeguards for civil society and the media.
The CAR government should reform the government appointment process.
Click here to read or download the full report.
Central African Republic
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