SMALL ARMS: A REGIONAL TINDERBOX A REGIONAL ARMS: SMALL AND REPUBLIC AFRICAN THE CENTRAL Small Arms Survey By Eric G. Berman with Louisa N. Lombard Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies 47 Avenue Blanc, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland p +41 22 908 5777 f +41 22 732 2738 e [email protected] w www.smallarmssurvey.org THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND SMALL ARMS A REGIONAL TINDERBOX ‘ The Central African Republic and Small Arms is the most thorough and carefully researched G. Eric By Berman with Louisa N. Lombard report on the volume, origins, and distribution of small arms in any African state. But it goes beyond the focus on small arms. It also provides a much-needed backdrop to the complicated political convulsions that have transformed CAR into a regional tinderbox. There is no better source for anyone interested in putting the ongoing crisis in its proper context.’ —Dr René Lemarchand Emeritus Professor, University of Florida and author of The Dynamics of Violence in Central Africa ’The Central African Republic, surrounded by warring parties in Sudan, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, lies on the fault line between the international community’s commitment to disarmament and the tendency for African conflicts to draw in their neighbours. The Central African Republic and Small Arms unlocks the secrets of the breakdown of state capacity in a little-known but pivotal state in the heart of Africa. It also offers important new insight to options for policy-makers and concerned organizations to promote peace in complex situations.’ —Professor William Reno Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Political Science, Northwestern University Photo: A mutineer during the military unrest of May 1996. © Pascal Le Segretain/Corbis Sygma A Small Arms Survey publication SMALL ARMS: A REGIONAL TINDERBOX A REGIONAL ARMS: SMALL AND REPUBLIC AFRICAN THE CENTRAL Small Arms Survey By Eric G. Berman with Louisa N. Lombard Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies 47 Avenue Blanc, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland p +41 22 908 5777 f +41 22 732 2738 e [email protected] w www.smallarmssurvey.org THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND SMALL ARMS A REGIONAL TINDERBOX ‘ The Central African Republic and Small Arms is the most thorough and carefully researched G. Eric By Berman with Louisa N. Lombard report on the volume, origins, and distribution of small arms in any African state. But it goes beyond the focus on small arms. It also provides a much-needed backdrop to the complicated political convulsions that have transformed CAR into a regional tinderbox. There is no better source for anyone interested in putting the ongoing crisis in its proper context.’ —Dr René Lemarchand Emeritus Professor, University of Florida and author of The Dynamics of Violence in Central Africa ’The Central African Republic, surrounded by warring parties in Sudan, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, lies on the fault line between the international community’s commitment to disarmament and the tendency for African conflicts to draw in their neighbours. The Central African Republic and Small Arms unlocks the secrets of the breakdown of state capacity in a little-known but pivotal state in the heart of Africa. It also offers important new insight to options for policy-makers and concerned organizations to promote peace in complex situations.’ —Professor William Reno Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Political Science, Northwestern University Photo: A mutineer during the military unrest of May 1996. © Pascal Le Segretain/Corbis Sygma A Small Arms Survey publication By Eric G. Berman with Louisa N. Lombard THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND SMALL ARMS A REGIONAL TINDERBOX A Small Arms Survey publication Copyright Published in Switzerland by the Small Arms Survey © Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva 2008 First published in December 2008 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the Small Arms Survey, or as expressly permit- ted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Publications Manager, Small Arms Survey, at the address below. Small Arms Survey Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies 47 Avenue Blanc, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland Copyedited by Michael James Proofread by Donald Strachan Typeset in Optima and Palatino by Richard Jones, Exile: Design & Editorial Services ([email protected]) Cartography by MAPgrafix Printed by nbmedia in Geneva, Switzerland ISBN 2-8288-0103-9 ii The Central African Republic and Small Arms The Small Arms Survey The Small Arms Survey is an independent research project located at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Swit- zerland. Established in 1999, the project is supported by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and by sustained contributions from the Gov- ernments of Belgium, Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The Survey is also grateful for past and current project support received from the Governments of Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, New Zealand, Spain, and the United States, as well as from differ- ent United Nations agencies, programmes, and institutes. The objectives of the Small Arms Survey are: to be the principal source of public information on all aspects of small arms and armed violence; to serve as a resource centre for governments, policy-makers, researchers, and activ- ists; to monitor national and international initiatives (governmental and non- governmental) on small arms; to support efforts to address the effects of small arms proliferation and misuse; and to act as a clearinghouse for the sharing of information and the dissemination of best practices. The Survey also spon- sors field research and information-gathering efforts, especially in affected states and regions. The project has an international staff with expertise in se- curity studies, political science, law, economics, development studies, and so- ciology, and collaborates with a network of researchers, partner institutions, non-governmental organizations, and governments in more than 50 countries. Small Arms Survey Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies 47 Avenue Blanc, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland p +41 22 908 5777 f +41 22 732 2738 e [email protected] w www.smallarmssurvey.org The Small Arms Survey iii About the Authors Eric G. Berman is Managing Director of the Small Arms Survey. He began this study as a consultant for the Survey while he was a Visiting Fellow at the Thomas Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Previously, he worked for the United Nations in the Department for Disarmament Affairs in New York, and subsequently served as the Assistant Spokesman for the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia, the Special Assistant to the Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, and the Political Affairs Officer for the UN International Commission of Inquiry (Rwanda). He has published widely on UN and African security issues. His next book, U.S. Policy Toward Peace Operations and Peacekeeping Capacity-building in Africa, is to be published by the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College in early 2009. Louisa N. Lombard is a University Scholar at Duke University, where she is completing a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology. Her research focuses on conflict and governance in Central Africa, particularly the region encompassing the Central African Republic, Chad, and Sudan. She has conducted research in CAR since June 2003, and has travelled widely in the country. She has worked as a consultant for the Small Arms Survey, the World Bank, Human Rights Watch, and other organizations. Her publications include articles on topics such as armed groups, human security, disarmament, and international law. She speaks English, French, Norwegian, conversational Arabic, and some Sangho. She thanks everyone who helped bring this project to fruition, espe- cially the many Central Africans whose expertise is reflected here. iv The Central African Republic and Small Arms Acknowledgements This study has a long history. The decision to undertake it dates back to a July 2002 meeting in Geneva with my predecessor, Peter Batchelor, when I was a Boston-based consultant to the Survey. We reviewed under-researched conflict areas in Africa in which small arms flows probably merited greater attention, and ultimately decided that I should go to Bangui. I appreciate Peter’s initial interest, as well as the continued support of Keith Krause, the Survey’s Pro- gramme Director. Thomas Biersteker, and the Watson Institute for International Studies of which he was the Director, also merit mention here. Much of the research for this book was undertaken while I was a Visiting Fellow at Watson, and I very much enjoyed my time in Providence (and the reverse commute). Shorter versions of this study have appeared in the Small Arms Survey 2005 and a Survey Special Report (in French) in 2006. This book is considerably more detailed and includes a separate chapter that covers events up to June 2007. I am indebted to the hard work, good humour, professionalism, and zeal of Louisa Lombard, author of the Epilogue, whom I met at Brown University, who travelled to the Central African Republic and the region with me, and who has subsequently become an expert on the country in her own right. The entire study is considerably richer because of her effort and perseverance. Having worked for and with the United Nations, I know first-hand the ‘enthusiasm’ field offices have for researchers who visit them carrying little more than a letter of introduction from Headquarters in New York and mak- ing numerous logistical demands.