Central African Republic Crisis: Managing Natural Resources for Peace
Publisher: Friends Committee on National Legislation
Author(s): Katherine Edelen, Ilona Coyle, and Jordan Street
Date: 2014
Topics: Economic Recovery, Extractive Resources, Governance
Countries: Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR) is a resource-rich country, endowed with mineral wealth, vast expanses of timber, fertile lands and wildlife. CAR is also trapped in cycles of violent conflict and political crises that date back to the 1990s. Poor governance, chronic insecurity and migration have led to escalating disputes over shared resources. Grievances and competition over natural resources are among the most persistent and commonly overlooked root causes of the ongoing violence.