The (not so) Little Conflict That Everyone's Ignoring

The conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) continues to fester with most nations choosing to ignore that it even exists. Sadly, a timeline of the conflict fails to identify a clear beginning. Does it start with the overthrow of François Bozize in March 2013 or does it go back much further?

About the only clarity in the conflict is the spiraling violence, fed by deteriorating conditions and ever-divisive religious tones. The most recent spate of violence is representative of these conditions. Arbitrary rule by religious-minded military leaders in the recent past has only served to exacerbate tensions.

A little geography helps put into perspective why a conflict in CAR can be politically dangerous:

(Source: Encyclopedia Britannica)

Many of the countries bordering CAR are only now beginning to heal from decades of war. A return to ethno-religious conflict in the region, coupled with anarchy and lawlessness, could signal darker days ahead if not addressed. Moreover, there are increasing concerns that CAR may spiral toward genocide, a fear because the outside world cannot afford to overlook another such conflict. The domino effect in the region could strain the resources of the international community.

The United States has made token concessions to protect civilians in CAR and attempt to restore some semblance of functioning government, but those efforts have proven fruitless. If the CAR government fails to protect its population, who becomes responsible for completing the task that has gone unfinished and, to an extent, not even started? While CAR may be important to regional security, the burden can become enormous for any single entity to handle.