Central African Republic: Ten years of civil war

In March 2013, rebel groups formed in the north of the country. They united in a coalition called the Seleka and took power in Bangui. Looting and atrocities soon led to deadly reprisals by self-defense committees made up of villagers and former soldiers called the Anti-balaka militias.

In Bangui and in the west of the country, Muslims, ethnic Fulani, or people who joined the routed Seleka fighters, were targeted: they were hemmed in, hunted down, killed, or forced into exile. UN peacekeeping forces and French troops were also deployed. This third civil war filled the daily lives of thousands of families with fear and the constant struggle for survival.

In such circumstances, people had to ask themselves: where can we shelter our family? How can we adapt and continue to be a family in the middle of a war? And how will we rebuild our lives?

Over the past ten years, acts of violence and political alliances contributed to ongoing upheaval. The military counter-offensive by the Central African government, supported by Russian allies, has allowed the state to regain control of the country's main cities and roads. The armed groups have been driven out to the periphery and weakened, but are still capable of inflicting harm, and both sides are regularly accused of atrocities.

Today, 3,000 MSF staff are working in the country, and most of them are Central African. They provide numerous medical services such as pediatric care, trauma surgery, and HIV/AIDS care. Every year, MSF teams carry out 900,000 consultations in partnership with the health authorities.