The Central African Republic is about to become a French colony again after 53 years. Although France announced its withdrawal from Central Africa in 1960, it continued to exploit Central Africa's diamonds, gold, uranium and oil through its own companies. Central Africa was the next stop of occupation by France, which invaded Mali under the pretext of al-Qaeda after its economic crisis and fired first shots at Libya. The fact that Muslims came to power for the first time in Central Africa, whose underground resources were ruled by France, schools by the Vatican, and the state by a priest until March 24, 2013, disturbed the imperialist West. 

FORMER PRESIDENT WAS A PRIEST

* How did the former President Bozizé, who is a Christian, treat Muslims?

Bozizé was a priest. In his opinion, there was no place for Muslims in Central Africa. We fought unarmed so as not to bow to the pressures he exerted on Muslims. But He had our families and relatives imprisoned. He had some of them killed.

France, which supposedly withdrew from the Central African Republic by connecting oil, diamond, uranium and gold mines to its own companies in 1960, invaded the country militarily after 53 years. In the Central African Republic, where Muslims are oppressed by the state, the fact that a Muslim became the President for the first time in March 2013 changed all the balances. France, which was in an economic crisis, launched the occupation with the fear that it would lose its commercial interests in the Central African Republic. France, which sent weapons to the Christian organization Anti-balaka and committed the massacre of Muslims, first increased the number of soldiers in the country, using the internal security problem as a pretext. Then it pulled the USA to its side. At least 600 Muslims have been massacred in Central Africa in the last month.

Speaking to the Milli Gazete, Central African activist İbrahim Osman said that France lost 50 percent of its share in the Central African market and stated that the reason behind the occupation was economic. Stating that although France withdrew from the country in 1960, it has been exploiting it for 53 years through its companies, Osman said that the export of Uranium mines to South Africa and its oil to China angered France. Saying that there was a systematic pressure on Muslims, Osman noted that some Christian groups were supported by France, triggering the “Christian-Muslim” conflict. We talked to İbrahim Osman about what happened and continues to happen in Central Africa…

WE COULD NOT SAVE OURSELVES FROM BEING COLONIAL

* What happened in the Central African Republic?

In 1960, we thought we were no longer a French colony but it was quite the opposite. We still have not recovered from being exploited. While France withdrew politically from the Central African Republic, it left the administration to the groups it supported. Nothing has changed in our country for 53 years. We have underground and above-ground wealth. Gold, diamonds, oil, uranium and wood… But all these are in the control of France. Buganda, our first president elected in 1960 was killed in a plane crash. France was not satisfied with the next president, a coup was staged. The first democratic election in our country was held in 1993 under the auspices of the UN. Ange-Félix Patassé was elected President. Patassé first eliminated the French military units. He believed that in order to move the country forward, it was necessary to get rid of France. He negotiated with Russia to take the uranium from the French companies and transferred the oil to the Chinese companies. Uncomfortable with this situation, France supported François Bozizé, who was the chief of general staff at the time and was the president until March 2013, and staged a coup. 

A MUSLIM PRESIDENT AFTER 53 YEARS

* On March 24, 2013 the President has changed. How did this incident arise, which was the result of a civil uprising?

On January 1, 2013, members of Séléka marched to the capital. 100 km before entering the city, a protocol was made with the president. Under the Brazzaville protocol, President Bozizé would remain in the presidency until 2016. He was not able to become a candidate in the next election. The current government was to be overhauled. The government was planned to be 50 percent Muslim and 50 percent Christian. After the protocol was signed, the government was renewed. But Bozizé tried to assassinate Muslim leaders. He did not stick to the protocol. On March 24, thousands of people marched to the Presidential Palace. Bozizé fled with an airplaneload of diamonds and gold, first to Cameroon, then to South Africa, and then to France. A transitional government was formed. The President was a Muslim, the Prime Minister was a Christian. Although the government was preserved, minor revisions were made. An election can be held in 2014 when the security threat is eliminated.

* What is the percentage of Muslims in Central African Republic?

The population of Central Africa is 5 million. 40% of this is Christian, 30% is Muslim, and 30% believes in local African religions.

MUSLIMS ARE UNDER PRESSURE

*How would you describe being a Muslim in Central Africa?

Muslims are oppressed by the state. For example, when a Muslim went to get a passport, he was faced with difficulties and his work was interrupted. They knew from his name whether he was a Muslim or not. 

THE GOODS OF THE MUSLIMS WERE STOLEN

Since 1960, most of the trade has been in the control of Muslims. Muslims own 80 percent of the diamond and gold trade. Former President Bozizé had unlawfully confiscated gold and diamonds owned by Muslims. Later, Muslims could not stand these pressures and turned their civil struggles into armed resistance. It supports Muslims in Northern Sudan and Chad. 

SCHOOLS ARE AFFILIATED TO VATICAN

Almost all the education system is under the control of the Catholic churches. Our schools are run by the Vatican. 80% of the schools are affiliated with the Vatican and 20% with the state. A Muslim must change his name in order to be able to study in one of these schools. Because I am Muslim, I could not go to school in my own country. I went to primary school in Chad, and secondary, high school and university in Egypt. 

FRANCE HAS SENT THE WEAPONS WHICH KILL MUSLIMS

* 400 Muslims died in the attacks on 5 March. Who do you think is behind this attack?

When the Minister of Interior, a former priest, was behind the murder of 400 of our Muslim brothers on December 5, 2013, he was dismissed and imprisoned. In addition, a search of his house found thousands of weapons, grenades and ammunition. We guess that these are the ammunition sent by France to the Anti-balaka.

* Using religious differences, are they aiming for a 'religious war'?

They want to start a religious war in our country. We are quite opposite this purpose. In this way, Muslims are tried to be oppressed.

INTERPOL SEEKS BUT FRANCE PROTECTS

Bozizé, who caused the death of thousands of Muslims, was reported to Interpol to be captured and put on trial. France is protecting him. Bozizé runs Anti-balaka, which is causing chaos in our country, from France.

Organization that Kills Muslims

* Who is Anti-balaka?

This organization, which is led by former President Bozizé and has around 3000 members, kills Muslims they deem weak. This group, which attacks with swords, usually attacks Muslims in the rural areas. Anti-balaka members, who wander in groups of 50 or 100 people, kill children, old people and women indiscriminately. They throw them alive into the fire, cut people's bodies with swords and stone them.

In Central Africa, there is an organization of about 3000 people led by former President Bozizé and guarded by France. They are just like the axemen in Egypt. The sole purpose of this organization is to massacre Muslims.

Unfortunately, we must reveal the bloody situation of another side of the Islamic Geography. The massacre of Muslims continues silently and deeply in Central Africa nowadays. Publishing these photos is not a “reflection of being a journalist”...  We hope that these photographs will be a touch and a cry to the consciences that have been in silence for long time... Maybe two drops of tears fall from the eyes. Maybe the hands that are high up-to-the-sky begin to pray. Maybe those prayers will be a cure for these brothers and sisters. Otherwise, the rulers at the head of this ummah have no problem shaking off and coming to their senses(!)... We publish a significant part of the horror photos by pixelating them. There is no need to write a subtitle or even to explain the issue thoroughly. It is unnecessary to even look for a suitable word for the headline. These photos are very clear. Stronger and more descriptive than any of the words...

One Is Lynching, The Other Is Beating and Arresting

In the photo above, a Central African Muslim is beaten with a knife by a member of the Christian Anti-balaka Organization. The Muslim man, who barely escaped being lynched by the crowd, is being brutalized this time by the French soldiers. In the photo below, the battered Muslim is detained by French soldiers while his hands were tied.

Attacking with swords, the Christian Anti-balaka Organization usually targets Muslims in the rural areas. Anti-balaka members, who wander in groups of 50 or 100 people, brutally murder Muslims, regardless of children, the elderly or women. They throw them alive into the fire, they cut off the various limbs of people with swords.

Quoted from: Milli Gazete