Every time the Central African Republic (CAR) seems close to recovering from the chaos of the past few years, a new outbreak of violence sends the ongoing peace efforts back to square one. Despite the numerous cease-fires and peace agreements negotiated and signed since 2013, violence continues throughout the country. Since early 2017, episodes of extreme identity-based violence have brought the number of displaced people in and from CAR recently to an unprecedented 1.2 million people. CAR has reached a crossroads. Its leaders should act boldly to stem the unending cycle of violence by creating pathways for meaningful inclusion of all citizens.

In July 2017, under the auspices of the African Union, a new roadmap for peace and reconciliation in CAR was signed in Libreville. But peace mediators still have no nationally organized and inclusive political dialogue to work with, and armed groups continue to fragment. Those involved in the peace process still overlook a group of Central Africans whose experiences and reflections could represent a precious source of inspiration in finding a way out of the crisis.