With support from the Museum’s Center for the Prevention of Genocide, the New Republic dispatched reporter Graeme Wood and photographer Michael Christopher Brown to the Central African Republic (CAR) in March 2014. Their piece, “Hell Is an Understatement,” documents the increasingly religious nature of the conflict and its impact on civilians.
Featured here are more of Brown’s stark, powerful images of the effects the violence is having on civilians in Bangui, CAR’s capital.
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The largely Christian self-defense forces known as the Anti-Balaka set up this roadblock in Bangui, CAR’s capital. Affixed to the top of it is a mannequin, along with a star and crescent from a nearby mosque. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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Rwandan soldiers serve in the African Union mission known as MISCA. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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This secondary school outside of Bangui was formerly attended by both Christian and Muslim students. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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Women pass by the US embassy in Bangui, which has temporarily suspended operations. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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A Rwandan soldier stands guard at an African Union base in Bangui. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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Those fleeing the violence seek refuge at the M’Poko internally displaced persons (IDP) camp at the international airport in Bangui. —Michael Christopher Brown
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Rwandan African Union soldiers patrol Bangui. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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African Union soldiers check civilians for weapons in Bangui. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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Rwandan African Union soldiers patrol Bangui. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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An Anti-Balaka fighter demonstrates a killing technique at the M’Poko IDP camp in Bangui. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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The UN estimates that more than 600,000 civilians have been internally displaced in CAR. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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Rwandan African Union soldiers perform Umuganda (Day of Community Service) every Saturday in Bangui just as they do at home in Rwanda. To inspire the locals to participate, the soldiers offer local bread as a reward for their service. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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A Rwandan soldier stands guard at an African Union base in Bangui. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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Rwandan African Union soldiers secure the site of a destroyed mosque in Bangui. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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Christian residents of an Anti-Balaka–controlled neighborhood express their discontent with French Sangaris soldiers. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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African Union and French soldiers secure the area while others remove an Anti-Balaka roadblock in Bangui. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
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Korans and other religious texts were found at the site of a destroyed mosque in Bangui. March 2014. —Michael Christopher Brown
