Central Africa not a ‘lost cause,’ seeks donor help

President Faustin-Archange Touadera on Thursday urged donors to help the Central African Republic, one of the world’s poorest countries, recover from years of bloody civil strife.

“Yes the situation of my country is difficult but it is not a lost cause,” Touadera told donors meeting in Brussels to discuss his call for aid of some $3.0 billion over the next five years.

“We call on you to give us the support needed to make the difference … we need your solidarity and help,” he said.

The Central African Republic sits strategically on the crossroads of Africa and is home to five million people split deeply along ethnic and religious lines.

Former colonial power France intervened in 2013 to stop violent Christian-Muslim clashes and formally ended its peacekeeping mission only last month, hailing it a success despite fresh outbreaks of violence.

A more than 10,000-strong UN force, MINUSCA, is now responsible for security.

Touadera said the conference was key to a recovery plan which he hoped to kick-start with initial contributions of $1.6 billion to get the devastated economy back on track.

EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini who opened the conference, promised Brussels would make a “considerable, very considerable” contribution, with details to be announced later Thursday.

“The Central African Republic is turning the page and now it is our turn to step up and help,” Mogherini said.

French Development Minister Andre Vallini, cautioned against expecting too much.

“Nothing has been agreed yet and we do not know if we will get to these figures,” he said when asked about Touadera’s remarks.

Donors include the EU, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, France and the United States.

Touadera has failed to establish control over all the country while efforts have also failed to disarm Muslim and Christian militias responsible for thousands of deaths and the displacement of 10 percent of the population.

France still has several hundred troops in the country as Paris and the West keep a wary eye on Boko Haram jihadists in Nigeria and northern Cameroon.

Washington also has around 100 special forces near the border with South Sudan.