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A country sinks into violence

a photo series by William Daniels

Poorest nation, richest nation (Issue III+IV/2018)

  • Morning fog over the Ubangi. The river forms the border between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo

    Morning fog over the Ubangi. The river forms the border between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo

  • The Ndassima gold mine in Bambari was abandoned by the Canadian company Axim during the violent conflicts in 2013. Since then the mine has been in the hands of militias. Some 15 kilograms of gold per month are mined here illegally

    The Ndassima gold mine in Bambari was abandoned by the Canadian company Axim during the violent conflicts in 2013. Since then the mine has been in the hands of militias. Some 15 kilograms of gold per month are mined here illegally

  • woman searching for gold in the Central African river Kotto

    woman searching for gold in the Central African river Kotto

  • A room in the palace of former president Jean-Bédel Bokassa, who was crowned Emperor of the Central African Republic in 1977. The ruined palace was later inhabited by Séléka rebels

    A room in the palace of former president Jean-Bédel Bokassa, who was crowned Emperor of the Central African Republic in 1977. The ruined palace was later inhabited by Séléka rebels

  • Muslim women and children in the refugee camp of Boda, 2016

    Muslim women and children in the refugee camp of Boda, 2016

  • A farmer walks to his field outside the village of Zawara, shortly after a storm has swept over it. Although the village is only 24 kilometres east of the capital Bangui, it is isolated. There are hardly any roads to get there

    A farmer walks to his field outside the village of Zawara, shortly after a storm has swept over it. Although the village is only 24 kilometres east of the capital Bangui, it is isolated. There are hardly any roads to get there

  • Workers searching for diamonds in the river Kotto, an area in the east of the country which is still in the hands of militias

    Workers searching for diamonds in the river Kotto, an area in the east of the country which is still in the hands of militias

  • A family that had fled has found refuge in a former classroom of the Notre Dame des Victoires school in Bambari

    A family that had fled has found refuge in a former classroom of the Notre Dame des Victoires school in Bambari

  • Only a few walls still stand in this quarter of the capital Bangui, which was inhabited by Muslims before the outbreak of violence in 2013

    Only a few walls still stand in this quarter of the capital Bangui, which was inhabited by Muslims before the outbreak of violence in 2013

  • Catholics singing during Sunday mass in Carnot

    Catholics singing during Sunday mass in Carnot

  • Miners at the Koro diamond mine in the west of the Central African Republic. Since rebel groups forcibly invaded the country in 2013, most of the mines are in the hands of militias

    Miners at the Koro diamond mine in the west of the Central African Republic. Since rebel groups forcibly invaded the country in 2013, most of the mines are in the hands of militias


Utter poverty amid a wealth of resources has been the reality in the Central African Republic for decades. How did the country become the poorest in the world even though it abounds with gold, diamonds and uranium?

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