Dr Peter Sakwe Masumbe, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and International Relations, University of Buea, looks at the chances of unity in CAR after the forthcoming national reconciliation confab.

What should be done to facilitate reconciliation in the Central African Republic, CAR, in the face of sectarian violence and years of recurrent civil strife?

Certainly, there is overbearing mistrust amongst the people of CAR after a terrible internecine war for over two years and decades of impoverishment. The problem with obtaining peace in the country today hinges on creating extensive confidence-building measures amongst the people. Interim President Catherine Samba-Panza, the public and international community, must engage in a sincere campaign to defuse the hatred and human rights abuses that have created great distrust amongst the people.

Samba-Panza must form a broad-based unity administration reflecting different shades of opinion by intellectuals, business people, peasants, trade unions, women, minority and religious groups. All the political, economic, social and cultural opinions must be brought aboard in order to achieve a strong and reliable politico-economic society. She must show a high degree of patriotism and courage, completely devoid of nepotism and tribal influences, in order to move the country forward.

The level of distrust is high as a result of deep-rooted hatred that has been created amongst Christians and Muslims. Such hatred has unfortunately created a widespread imaginary divide between the two religious groups. Thus, the feasibility of reconciliation in the Central African Republic now appears very slim, given the current lack of trust among the key players in the crisis. Most of the belligerent fighters appear to have extensive military support from some neighbouring countries. This is the bane of the matter. Those who are quick to offer support to either Muslims or Christians, must stop inflaming tensions and escalating insecurity in the country.

However, the possibility of peace, security and stability in the Central African Republic is not a mirage. It all depends on the willingness of stakeholders. The so-called Muslim and Christian militias and the whole country must get completely involved in helping to restore peace. The UN and the EU are sponsoring efforts to promote reconciliation between the two groups, which wrongly believe that the country must remain divided or continue in bloodshed. Any continuation of intransigence will obviously increase the pain and trauma of the people.

The panel set up by the government to make recommendations for holding a national reconciliation conference, ended its work on June 12, 2014. What can be done to ensure that the outcome of the conference does not fail like in the past?

In as much as it is highly commendable to set up such a panel, President Catherine Samba-Panza should be deeply committed to ensuring that the process of peace-building takes roots amongst the people. It is not enough to set up a panel to make recommendations for holding a national reconciliation conference without putting the necessary instruments that guarantee peace in place.

What is even more important is the membership of the panel. Presently, Samba-Panza holds the key to peace in CAR and must show complete aptitude in restoring it. Her role is central, not by interfering with the work of the proposed conference, but by ensuring that its participants are patriotic men and women and not adventurers and tribalists who pretend to serve the interests of the country.

The defunct Séléka rebels recently carried out some restructuring, setting up what appears to be a rival administration in the north. Does this not risk making the task of national reconciliation harder?

It is important to insist that regional and international dynamics in conflict prevention, management and resolution must urgently come into play in CAR, else the country will slide into a regional nightmare. The threat - if not handled with full understanding and care - is that former Séléka rebels are re-grouping in the northern part of CAR with the aim of forming a rival administration geared towards declaring an independent Muslim State.

Séléka is being blindly intoxicated by the success of South Sudanese and Eritreans in clamouring for independence from Sudan and Ethiopia respectively. In fact, events in CAR, Sudan and Ethiopia do not present similar parametres. Séléka’s restructuring should be taken with a lot of caution. The international community must be apprehensive of such moves if CAR must remain one and indivisible.

The earlier appropriate political, economic and administrative measures are employed against Séléka by the government and the international community, the brewing, intractable turmoil could be nipped in the mud. The international community must also not overlook the undercutting role that exiled former CAR leaders could play in destabilizing the country.