That pervades the entire country today. You and agencies and human rights organizations have estimated that over 600,000 have been displaced since the beginning of this rebellion in late 2012. Since december 2013 we agree that at least two dozen people been killed and another 100,000 have fled the country to us since december. We are particularly concerned that the imminent threat against muslim civilians has forced many to abandon their homes and communities and is seeking help from you in humanitarian agency, the African Union, and the french peacekeeping forces to relocate within the Central African republic or to neighboring countries. Just last weekend at the urging request of muslim civilians at the pk12 neighborhood peacekeeping force is transported over 1,002 and the people to towns in northern parts of the country as soon as those folks the parted the remaining local population attacked and destroyed the mosque and looted the homes of those who had not. This forced relocation
Hatred where little to none had previously existed. What we begin to see happening last november in response was a reactionary backlash by selfdefense gangs. Since then retaliatory outreaches contributed by antibalaka has escalated and muslim civilians what nothing to do with balaka became targets. As in the case, whole neighborhoods in the capital city and whole villages have been cleansed of the Muslim Populations. As well hear from our witnesses there are numerous causes could shoot to grievances including a fight to control conflict minerals. In mining area and thus there are economic motives at work there as well. Insofar as conflict can be described as religion on one level its also true religious fervor and dedication that provides the greatest hope of peace and reconciliation in the Central African republic. Some of you will recall how a few months ago three great religious leaders came to washington as well us to new york, the United Nations, meeting with people both sides of
Genocide. For any country that has been characterized by brutal misrule, we are seeing for the first time sectarian divisions such as never existed before. Economic tensions have always existed but it has given way to a butchery based on religious and ethnic affiliation. This is happening in a time when we mark the 20th anniversary of the genocide in rwanda. When that country was being turned into a killing field, the world stood idly by. Intelligence information could have prevented or mitigated the rwandan genocide. I held a series of meetings on da and we on rwan heard from people who said they had the information on hand. Upwards of one Million People were slaughtered and with that information, that could have been prevented or at least largely mitigated. When the blood stopped flowing, the world looked at the corpses piled high and was shocked. Never again, was the phrase on everyones lips. It is happening again. The question before us today is whether the phrase never again is on
City after ecoli was discovered the work will come to get you. Trading tinsel town for the big easy. Why the bright lights of hollywood are popping up in new orleans good morning, and welcome to Al Jazeera America. Im John Henry Smith. Thank you for spending part of your memorial day with us. We begin with pope francis and his visit to the holy land, set against the backdrop of tension and a civil war raging in sfiria. He begins in imam, and travels to the west bank before ending his tour. Pope francis touched down less than an hour ago, and will meet with king abdullah. We are joined with the latest. Nick, no question pope francis brought change to the vatican. Can it help as they focus on reconciliation in the east . Yes, those are the main themes. Reconciliation, rev fees, papal politics. Reconciliation is the official region for the trip. It was 50 years ago, that for the first time in nine centuries, that the heads met and pope francis will continue and celebrate by having a meeti
Union to discuss the deployment of additional african troops from rwanda, and we hope that that will take place very soon, and we are positioned to move those troops quickly. But at the e. U. Presence will go from 100 at present to 500 present so that will bring us up to close to 9000. Military plan is the pentagon and the u. N. Said that is a sufficient force with a robust mandate to bring some peace to these people who suffer . Let me answer the question differently mr. Chairman. Spin terms of displaced members we have seen the number declined from 500,000 to 200,000 which is not to suggest that the situation is not atrocious and the removal of the muslims and the light of the muslims continues to those numbers so i dont want to be misleading but the fact that the number of internally displaced people is declining i think shows the French Forces are having impact and we get these police trained we are hopeful those numbers will be sufficient to restore security. I think we will have