[4] In response to widespread human rights abuses perpetrated by the victorious Séléka, the "Anti-Balaka" emerged, a decentralised armed movement constituted mainly by Christian and animist militia, which had been supported by François Bozizé's government.
[4] This movement was then reinforced by defecting members of the armed forces loyal to the former president, and it began to commit abuses against the country's Muslim minority.
[5][2] In May 2015, the Forum de Bangui brought together representatives of the transitional government, parliament, armed groups, civil society and religious leaders.
At the meeting a number of armed groups signed an agreement on Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Repatriation (DDRR) and agreed to release thousands of children.
Poor access to education across the country has also been a contributing factor.According to Child Soldiers International, boys and girls as young as eight are trained to fight and use light weapons such as AK47s, knives and machetes, and are often used in frontline positions.