Countries in Central Africa are at an increased risk for mass violence, with concerns growing over the role of hate speech — a potential warning sign for atrocities. Chad has already seen a dramatic rise in the risk of mass killings, ranking fourth globally in the latest rankings from the Early Warning Project, an annual statistical risk assessment from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide and Dartmouth College. Meanwhile, the Central African Republic (CAR) ranks 16th, plagued with ongoing killings by non-state armed groups, violence by state security forces and political tensions surrounding electoral processes.

USIP partners in CAR and Chad have been at the forefront of national efforts to map, document and raise awareness on hate speech. This work has increased our understanding of the political and security dynamics that allow hate speech to proliferate and informed the training of local authorities, community and religious leaders, and the media on how to combat the issue.

On July 6, USIP and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide hosted a conversation on the manifestations and drivers of hate speech, as well as ways to determine when it might lead or contribute to violence, including mass atrocities. Using case studies from Chad and CAR, the discussion explored best practices for locally led atrocity prevention and peacebuilding efforts.

Speakers

Ashleigh Landau
Research Associate, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide

Yamingué Bétinbaye
Scientific Director, Centre for Research in Anthropology and Human Sciences

Rhosyns Ngatondang-Zalang
President, Association Jeunesse en Marche pour le Développement en Centrafrique

Elizabeth Murray
Senior Advisor, Disability and Inclusion, U.S. Institute of Peace

Discours de Haine et Risques d’Atrocités en Afrique centrale

Leçons du Tchad et de la République centrafricaine

Les pays d'Afrique centrale sont exposés à un risque accru de violence de masse, et l’inquiétude grandit quant au rôle des discours de haine, qui peuvent constituer un signe avant-coureur potentiel d'atrocités. Le Tchad a déjà connu une hausse spectaculaire du risque de massacres de masse, se classant au quatrième rang mondial dans les derniers classements de l’Early Warning Project, une évaluation statistique annuelle des risques par le Centre Simon-Skjodt pour la Prevention du Génocide au United States Holocaust Memorial Museum et Dartmouth College. La République centrafricaine (RCA) se classe au seizième rang, en proie à une continuation de tueries perpétrées par des groupes armés non-étatiques, à des violences commises par les forces de sécurité nationales, et à des tensions politiques entourant les processus électoraux.

Les partenaires de l’Institut des États-Unis pour la Paix (USIP) en RCA et au Tchad sont à l’avant-garde des efforts nationaux visant à cartographier, documenter, et lutter contre les discours de haine. Ce travail a renforcé la compréhension des dynamiques politiques et sécuritaires qui favorisent la prolifération des discours de haine, et a permis de sensibiliser et former les autorités locales, les leaders communautaires et religieux, ainsi que les médias pour lutter contre ce problème.

Rejoignez l’USIP et le Centre Simon-Skjodt Centre pour la Prevention du Génocide au United States Holocaust Memorial Museum pour une discussion sur les manifestations et les causes des discours de haine, ainsi que sur les moyens de déterminer quand ils peuvent mener ou contribuer à la violence, y compris aux atrocités de masse. En utilisant des études de cas du Tchad et de la RCA, la discussion explorera les meilleures pratiques pour la prévention des atrocités et les efforts de consolidation de la paix menés localement.

Intervenants

Ashleigh Landau
Chargée de recherche, Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Yamingué Bétinbaye
Directeur scientifique, Centre de Recherche en Anthropologie et Sciences humaines

Rhosyns Ngatondang-Zalang
Président, Association Jeunesse en Marche pour le Développement en Centrafrique

Elizabeth Murray
Conseillère principale, Handicap et Inclusion, Institut des États-Unis pour la Paix (USIP)

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