Prof. Emmanuel Yenshu Vubo, Political Science lecturer, University of Buea, explains the recent decision by France to intervene militarily to end the Central African Republic's worsening humanitarian and security crisis.
France on Tuesday, November 26, 2013, announced its imminent military intervention in CAR - alongside the African-led peacekeeping force - to end months of ethnic and sectarian-related violence. What is the significance of such intervention at this time?
This falls in line with the current mode of managing world affairs. In the post-World War II order or what used to be known as the Cold War, there were spheres of influence in the dynamics of neo-colonialism.
You need to understand the new order that is now characterised by a philosophy of collective management of affairs by the lone super power, America, and its surviving allies, Britain, France and Germany. France is in charge of Western Europe, the Mediterranean basin and its former African colonies. The United States can intervene anywhere, depending on its interests. This explains the French intervention in Libya, Mali and Côte d'Ivoire. Unlike in the past when neocolonialism could explain any type of intervention, the United Nations Organisation (UN) has become the instance for ratifying such operations.
Where there is no objection from the surviving powers of the Eastern bloc (Russia and China), these operations are rather easy-going. The legitimacy is no more the history of colonial domination, but that of UN resolutions. On the other hand, the interest is no longer economy or citizens living in the country, but the international status of the intervening country. By intervening in African countries in the way it does, France is affirming itself as a major power to count with. This may be consistent with neocolonialism, but it goes beyond that to underline the structure of the current world order.
What will be the impact of such intervention on Séléka, Christian defence militias and other armed groups in the country?
That will depend on the mission and actions of French troops. Restoring order in the face of the current chaos may be an uphill task, but eliminating elements hostile to the regime may be easy, depending on the logistics. For now, it is unclear what these forces are meant to achieve. These troops cannot target all the forces at once. The best French and AU forces can do is to serve as a wedge between warring factions.
What is the future of the current transitional process and government led by President Michel Djotodia? Can he weather the brewing storm?
The best the government can do is to organise a truly democratic transition to hand power over to civilians. In the absence of such a transition, President Michel Djotodia is doomed to fall by the same way he came to power. His military group has no future as a political force, the more so as there is little or no consensus around his person and group. The idea of military rise to power has no more future in Africa.
