Tracking C.A.R.

Tracking C.A.R. Tracking the ongoing conflict in the Central African Republic. Student observatory launched by @damspleet at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. #CARcrisis !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");

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Central African Republic names new leader, EU to send troops

1/20/14 - BANGUI/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Central African Republic lawmakers chose their capital's mayor to become interim president on Monday and lead the country out of months of sectarian killings, as the European Union agreed to send in 500 troops to help restore order.

Key characters:

Bangui Mayor Catherine Samba-Panza, who became the new interim president.

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Carte : pourquoi la France intervient en Centrafrique

Des origines de la crise aux ressorts de l'intervention française, les enjeux qui traversent le pays résumés en une carte interactive.

The reasons behind the French intervention in the Central African Republic. An interactive map, by Le Monde, in French.

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Centrafrique : comment la France a précipité la fin de Michel Djotodia

Récit. Le président centrafricain, qui a démissionné vendredi, s'est révélé incapable de désarmer les milices qui menaçaient de faire sombrer le pays.

How France and Chad decided to let Djotodia fall after he lost control of the ex-Seleka fighters. Le Monde has the story, in French.

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CAR cannibal 'ate man as revenge'

Ouandja Magloire, who calls himself "Mad Dog", was in a Christian mob who attacked a Muslim in the capital. He said he had been "angry" because Muslims killed his pregnant wife, his-sister-in law and her baby.

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SAR 80 rifle and 5.56 x 45 ammunition in the Central African Republic

Anti-Balaka militia forces near Bouar in the Central African Republic (CAR) can be seen posing with some of their weapons. The fighter at the far right is holding what is likely a Chinese Type 56 assault rifle, whilst his compatriot in yellow is holding a Singaporean SAR 80 rifle.

More sighting of arms and ammunition in CAR.

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1/11/14 - A map of the Central African Republic's capital Bangui locating forces (AFP)

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President of the Central African transitional parliament (CNT) Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet, acting as the country's interim president after the current leader stepped down, pictured in Bangui on January 10, 2014 (AFP Photo/Badjo Baba)

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A picture taken on January 8, 2014 shows Central African republic president Michel Djotodia arriving at Mpoko Bangui airport in the capital Bangui on his way to Chad's capital N'Djamena to attend a summit on the unrest in his country (AFP Photo/Eric Feferberg)

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Violence erupts in Bangui despite departure of ex-rebel leader

1/11/14 - Bangui (Central African Republic) (AFP) - Deadly violence including reports of cannibalism and widespread looting gripped the capital of the Central African Republic on Saturday after the resignation of its ex-rebel president and with stranded foreigners waiting to be airlifted out of the country. Sporadic gunfire was heard overnight in Bangui with the shooting leaving three people dead -- a Christian vigilante, a former rebel and a civilian -- the head of the Central African Red Cross, pastor Antoine Mbaobogo, told AFP.

As Michel Djotodia, who took power after a coup in March 2013, resigned on Friday while in Chad, Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet will run the country for a period of two weeks until a new president is chosen.

Meanwhile, violence erupted in Bangui, with AFP reporting looting, killings, and even cannibalism. 

Some of the thieves allegedly committed acts of cannibalism, witnesses told AFP.

One resident of the capital, still in shock, related an incident on Tuesday when a Muslim man was attacked by a group who cut him up with a machete.

"One of the individuals took hold of an arm and went and bought some bread and starting chewing on the flesh, along with his bread," said 35-year-old Jean-Sylvestre Tchya.

"The scene made many people vomit, and some cried out in horror," he said. Another witness, Alain Gbabobou, said he saw a man pick up the head and wrap it up carefully, saying he would "feast on it" later.

Key characters:

Pastor Antoine Mbaobogo, head of the Central African Red Cross.

Michel Djotodia, former transitional president.

Alexandre-Ferdinand Nguendet, president of the Central African transitional parliament.

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GlobalPost breaks the CAR issue in several key questions: - What went wrong? - From phantom state to failed state? - What’s Africa doing and what’s France doing? - Where’s the US in all this? - Why does it matter? - What’s the solution?

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Residents in the Central African Republic celebrated the resignation of their president, Michel Djotodia, as a potential turning point in the recent fighting in their country. Many hoped it would signal an end to the violence between Mr. Djotodia’s Muslim rebel group, Seleka, and the Christian militia groups who oppose it.

The Lede's roundup of Djotodia's resignation, as seen on social media. The article also notes that a new interim president would be chosen in two weeks.

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Jan. 10 - (Reuters) Central African Republic's interim president resigns following pressure from regional leaders to step down for failing to stop months of inter-religious violence in his country. Mana Rabiee reports.

Euronews reports as well, with a few more details.

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Djotodia: ex-rebel chief who failed as C.Africa leader

Michel Djotodia, the rebel-turned-president of the Central African Republic who has resigned after letting his country slide into chaos and bloodshed, was swept to power as the previous regime crumbled.

AFP summary of the rise and fall of Michel Djotodia.

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New C.A.R. president Michel Djotodia steps down

Who will run CAR now? President and PM resigned. All MPs in Chad. #CARcrisis

— Piers Scholfield (@inglesi) 10 Janvier 2014

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EU proposes sending military force to Central African Republic

1/9/14 - BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union officials proposed on Wednesday that the EU move quickly to send troops to Central African Republic, either to the capital Bangui or the west of the country, diplomatic sources said.

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Crise en Centrafrique: l’ONU redoute une déstabilisation de la RDC

1/9/14 - (In French) The ongoing conflict in CAR could have consequences in neighboring DRC, the UN says. In March 2013, after the coup, former FACA (Central African Armed Forces) soldiers fled to DRC from Bangui. The MONUSCO now notes infiltrations from ex-Seleka in several villages in northeastern DRC. 

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This map shows the situation in CAR on January 6, 2014.