As Mandela departs, atrocity emerges anew

Another African milestone, another African tragedy. In 1994, a stunning array of world leaders gathered in South Africa to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s inauguration while genocidal massacres spread in Rwanda. Now, the world focuses on South Africa again — this time for Mandela’s funeral — as warnings of potential genocide emanate from Central African Republic. The ironic juxtaposition of the greatest example of African reconciliation with horrific carnage elsewhere on the continent raises the question of what has changed in the 19 years since Rwanda to prevent the kind of targeted exterminations the world repeatedly vows to stop from happening again. If the situation in Central African Republic is the guide, the answer is some change has occurred, but not enough.