CAR on the verge of genocide

Decisive Solutions. That, according to a harrowing recent report by Amnesty International, is what one of the leaders of the Central African Republic militia, the anti-balaka, calls himself: Rodrigue DS.

His idea of a solution: massacring and mutilating Muslim civilians.

The Amnesty International report details atrocities committed in January and February by the Christian anti-balaka (balaka means "machete" in the local Sango language) and Muslim Seleka rebels.

A year ago the Seleka, a rebel coalition backed by powerful neighbour Chad, deposed dictator Francois Bozize in a coup that cost the lives of 15 South African soldiers protecting him.

Since then Seleka attacks on Christian civilians - notably in December, when 1000 were killed in the capital Bangui - sparked a wave of ethnic cleansing against Muslims, 80% of whom have either fled the country or been killed.

Portions of the report read like accounts of the Rwandan genocide. It recounts the ill-fated attempt of nine members of the Yamsa family to flee from Bangui to neighbouring Cameroon. The truck they were travelling in was stopped at an anti-balaka roadblock at Boyali, a town 130km north of Bangui. The Muslim passengers were pulled off the truck and taken to a mosque.

Only 12-year-old Abdul Yamsa, who fled during the confusion, and 7-month-old Shamsia Yamsa, given to a Christian passenger who pretended she was her own offspring, survived.

"Using machetes and knives, the anti-balaka fighters hacked up their prisoners in the street directly in front of the mosque. Large bloodstains were visible on the street for weeks."

Rodrigue DS was on his way to reinforce anti-balaka units in Baoro, 390km north of Bangui, who had launched an unsuccessful attack on the town's Muslims that sparked a retaliatory massacre of 100 mostly unarmed Christians carried out by Seleka and Muslim residents.

"Among the dead were Papito Ponanti, aged 42, who was burned alive."

Charities such as Doctors Without Borders have sounded the call to step up aid to civilians.

Representatives of both Muslim and Christian communities in the Central African Republic said genocide is imminent unless peacekeepers do their job.

So far little decisive action has been in evidence. A combined African Union and French peacekeeping force of over 7000 troops has failed to prevent several massacres, especially outside Bangui, or disarm combatants. Despite their presence, the anti-balaka took control of key towns, roads and neighbourhoods.

Even in Bangui, anti-balaka fighters have been emboldened by the failure of peacekeepers to act against them. In January the anti-balaka hacked two Muslim men to death and set them alight. French troops nearby reportedly did nothing to stop the killings.

Peacekeepers have also failed to stop the Seleka regrouping. A recent Seleka attack near Bossangoa north of the capital prompted Human Rights Watch to warn that rebels were planning further assaults.

The UN , that bastion of decisive action, said it will take about six months to deploy the 12000-strong peacekeeping force recommended by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.

By then, it could be too late.