Why is Central African Republic struggling to find peace?

A state of emergency is due to expire in the Central African Republic.

President Faustin-Archange Touadéra imposed it in January, when rebels angry at his re-election attacked towns and villages.

However, armed groups are stepping up their attacks.

The army has the support of 12,000 UN peacekeepers, Rwandan special forces, and Russian paramilitaries.

But the fighting has forced more than 200,000 refugees to escape, mostly to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The United Nations warns the security situation is “deteriorating”, and says nearly two million people may die without assistance.

So why has it been so difficult to contain the violence?

Presenter: Halla Mohieddeen

Guests:

Moussa Abdoulaye – Journalist and political analyst in the Central African Republic

Lewis Mudge – Central Africa director, Human Rights Watch

Peter Knoope – Fellow, Institute for Justice and Reconciliation