The Central African Republic's transitional leader Michel Djotodia on Saturday denied European accusations that his country was on the brink of genocide and all-out inter-religious war. The country has descended into chaos since Djotodia led Seleka rebels, many of them from neighboring Chad and Sudan, to the capital in March, ousting President Francois Bozize.Though Djotodia has dissolved the rebel coalition, which has been blamed for human rights abuses, his government's failure to stop the violence has prompted calls at the U.N. Security Council for international intervention to restore order. France is ready to boost its force to at least 1,000 soldiers once a U.N. resolution is passed next week to improve security until a 3,600-strong African Union (AU) force is operational.
Last week, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that the country was "on the verge of genocide". EU humanitarian chief Kristalina Georgieva said the country faced state collapse and potential genocide because of the increasing killings between the Christian majority and Seleka-backing Muslims.
Djotodia attributed the carnage to settling of scores between those loyal to the previous government and some Seleka elements. He said, "For me, there is nothing to show that we can even talk of what is going on as genocide. This is simply vengeance. A regime committed abuses, it is now gone. Its victims are taking revenge, that is all."
"There's no genocide, there is not even an inter-religious war. All of this is made up to manipulate the opinion of the international community," he said, without elaborating.
In Bossangoa, former President Bozize's home region about 185 miles north of the capital, about 40,000 Christians have been displaced, with several thousand seeking refuge at a church. Djotodia dismissed concerns about them, saying those gathering at the church had done so because they knew they would get free food and water there.
"He who wants to drown his dog, accuses it of having rabies, that's all. Our situation is no less dramatic than that in other countries but it is portrayed as such. It is unfair," he said, sitting on a embroidered couch with fake gold ornaments.