Consequences of Conflict in the Central African Republic

Posted: November 16th, 2017

By Christopher Lamora

Christopher Lamora joined the Bureau of African Affairs Front Office as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary in September 2017 and holds the Security Assistance and Central African Affairs portfolios. He was previously the Director of the Office of Central African Affairs (2016-17), and before that, the Deputy Director of the Office of African Economic and Regional Affairs (2015-16). Lamora has worked in Africa and on African issues throughout his 26-year Foreign Service career, beginning with early assignments in Cameroon and the Central African Republic. He is a 1991 graduate of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.

Violence is increasing in the Central African Republic, along with reports of potential terrorist connections to the country, making the central African nation a U.S. national security interest. The Cipher Brief’s Kaitlin Lavinder asked Christopher Lamora, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of African Affairs, if claims of an ISIS connection are credible and why – if not – the U.S. should care about CAR.

The Cipher Brief: There have been reports of contact between ISIS militants and the Central African Republic, but there aren’t any confirmations that there’s official affiliation. Is ISIS somehow trying to infiltrate the Seleka militias already there?

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