Mercy Corps [to 24 October 2015]
http://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases

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How to Build Peace and Manage Conflict? Start Early
Central African Republic, October 19, 2015
Recent Mercy Corps report in Central African Republic shows benefits of conflict-management programs
Bangui, Central African Republic — An assessment of a recent, 15-month effort by the global organization Mercy Corps in the Central African Republic (CAR) reveals that when it comes to conflict management and violence prevention, an early focus on conflict resolution makes a profound difference.

Mercy Corps launched a conflict management program in CAR in January 2014 at the height of violence between a mostly Muslim armed alliance, Séléka, and mostly Christian community defense militias, anti-Balaka. Thousands of men, women and children had been killed, and one million civilians displaced from their homes. Many communities feared the violence would spiral toward a protracted civil war or genocide. Fortunately, that has not happened.

A key aspect of the Mercy Corps program was to improve conflict-management skills among key community leaders, resulting in a shift toward peaceful resolution of individual conflicts.