Conflict in the Central African Republic

The Central African Republic may not be a country on everyone's radar, but for the past two and a half years, it has been the scene of a bloody conflict that's left thousands dead and tens of thousands more displaced.

In December 2012, Muslim rebel groups known as Séléka began taking over towns and cities in the country. The group succeeded in overthrowing the government and taking control of the CAR in the spring of 2013. Although Séléka has officially been forced from the capital city of Bangui, its forces continue to terrorize parts of the country, leading France and South Africa to send military support to the CAR.

In recent weeks, anti-Séléka forces, known as the anti-Balaka, largely Christian in makeup, have also joined the fray, and allegations have arisen that ethnic cleansing against Muslims is now taking place.

We look at the conflict in the Central African Republic with Reuters' west & central Africa correspondent Bate Felix, Voice of America Senior Editor Idriss Fall, and Jordan Wiley, an emergency project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders who was in the CAR earlier this year.