Graeme Wood has a freakin’ pitch-perfect piece on the Central African Republic in Foreign Policy’s failed states issue. It’s old news to those of you with internet that’s not powered by hamsters, but over here, I just got it to download. There are so many things that are right about it, both in tone and reportorial detail, that I can’t list one or I’d just copy and paste the whole damn thing. But here’s a teaser scene about president Francois Bozize:
When the strongman addresses the crowd, he promises more attention from the government, but the people of Obo seem unsure what to think of this, given that power around there is associated with banditry and they might actually prefer their government to stay far away. Bozizé resolves their ambivalence: “Applaud!” he commands, and they do.
Go read it, and try not to be jealous that you didn’t write it. (Okay, maybe that’s just me.)
