Not just planes that descend on the runway at Central African Republic Airport

Hundreds of passengers to the Central African Republic have been redirected to Douala, Cameroon, as an estimated 5,000 civilians swamped the country's largest airport, following a week of intensified violence by Seleka rebels, forcing them for their homes.

The rebel coalition group known as the 'Seleka' have been systemically causing chaos throughout the country following the March coup which saw former President Francois Bozize removed from power. The Seleka is primarily formed from left over members of the C.A.R. Bush War, which ended in a peace agreement in 2007 and finalised in August 2012.

Believing this agreement was not honoured by Bozize, the rebels began attacking the country in December 2012 and quickly took control of N'Dele, Sam Ouandja and Ouadda in the North. After failing to secure international assistance, Bozize managed to strike another deal with the rebels, promising a new coalition government formed of the opposition. However, this was short lived and within weeks, the new agreement broke down. 

Ex-President Francois Bozize

For the next three months, the government and Seleka clashed resulting in the deaths of hundreds and injuring many more. However, by March 2013, it was all over; Bozize's government was removed from power. As Bozize headed into exile in Benin via Cameroon, Seleka leader, Michel Djotodia, was sworn in as the fifth President of the Cental African Republic. 

Originally Djotodia had intended to call elections in 2016, however following a stern word from Chad (who told him they would not recognise him as the country's president), elections have been brought forward to late 2014, as well as the formation of an inclusive transitional government  prior to elections. 

Since March, the country has unsurprisingly devolved into chaos as Djotodia fails to take control or be an effective leader at all. The Seleka have been granted permission to raid houses in rural and city areas in order to find Bozizi loyalists and weapons caches. In reality, all they are doing is exerting power and instilling fear so that at election time next year, civilians will be sure to vote for Djotodia, or risk their lives.

Current President Michel Djotodia

In the capital, Bangui, and, in particular, the Boy-Rabe and Boeing neighbourhoods, the people are living in abject terror at the hands of these lawless thugs. So, earlier this week, thousands of people headed to the airport, hoping to escape the looting, violence and armed robberies taking place outside their front door. However, as well as security, the Bangui people were also determined to catch the world's attention, to present the actions of the Seleka and Djotodia  to the world so they can be held accountable for their actions. One citizen, Antoine Gazana told Reuters "Our presence here at the airport has one goal- to get the world's attention. Because we are fed up with these Seleka." 

U.N. officials have expressed concerns that the country may suffer total collapse whilst French President Francois Hollande has warned C.A.R. may go the way of Somalia if steps are not taken. My heart goes out to these people, descending en masse to try find some semblance of safety as well raising their plight to the world wide stage, it shows their desperation. 

With hundreds and injured dead and over 200,000 more displaced since the Seleka rebellion began, we can only hope that something happens, and soon, that will help restore some kind of order to this beautiful, culturally rich country.

Lora.

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