Ethnic cleansing has forced out all of the Muslims who were living in the western part of the Central African Republic, torn-apart by a year of civil war that began when minority Muslim militias forced out the previous government.

United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees Antonio Guterres reported to the Security Council that the barbarity, brutality, and inhumanity of the revenge attacks by the majority Christians against Muslim civilians is shocking.  The Security Council is considering sending a 12,000 member force to bolster French and African Union peacekeepers who’ve been having a difficult time trying to tamp down the violence.

France is expected to introduce a resolution for the UN force in the coming weeks.  CAR’s Foreign Minister Toussaint Kongo-Doudou predicts his government will “roll out the red carpet” to welcome the badly needed peacekeepers.

“There are no alternatives in terms of survival,” Kongo-Doudou said.

Central African Republic was plagued with months of Muslim “Seleka” rebels pillaging neighborhoods, and raping and killing people with impunity.  Eventually, Christians formed their own militias and have meted out revenge in the capital Bangui and beyond, chasing Muslim civilians from their homes and into neighboring countries.