Bullets being fired, the voices of screaming people everywhere...
This is probably what most people imagine when they think of a ‘battlefield’.
And in this battlefield lies no place nor time for peace, and all that remains are mobs of people who have lost their minds and soul...This also may be what most would think of a country that has turned into a war zone.
At least I can say for myself that that’s what I expected before ever visiting a war zone.
However even in state of war, often times the area of combat is limited within the country, and the combat does not continue day and night.

As of November 2019 the Central African Republic was also in state of civil war, and was one of four countries declared by the United Nations to be in the highest state of National Emergency.
In March 2013, an Islamic coalition of armed forces names the ‘Seleka’ took control of the capital Bangui, ousting the then President François Bozizé.
In opposition the ‘Anti-Balaka’, a Christian militia in support of Bozizé, rose to gain revenge on the Islamic coalition.

Since, both sides have been battling back and forth for revenge, and murder, rape, and plunder continue on.

Wars in Africa are often referred to as the ‘forgotten wars’, as media coverage is very limited both in Japan and in the West.
The situation in the Central African Republic was picked the no.
1 ‘most ignored crisis of the world’ in a report published by The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
It was determined so by looking at the lack of support, interest from the media, and political will to bring the crisis to an end.
Since the beginning of the civil war in 2013 until May 2017, approx.
480,000 people fled the country, and if you include those taking refuge within the country, approx.
980,000 people have inevitably become refugees.
This however is known to very few people around the world.
I myself started photographing the Central African Republic in 2017.

The media plays a big role in the perception we have of a battlefield.
Only the horrific scenes are reported, and images of the hurt and wounded are shown continuously, giving the perception that the whole country is in such a state.

Although there are many torn and frightened.
In war zones across Africa, many do live in fear from the all the conflicts happening around them, but it’s also true that they have their daily lives as well.
Family matters, quarreling siblings, fighting and making up with friends; these all exist just as in any other society.
Lovers smile together looking at the beautiful sunset together, and whisper words of love to each other.

By bringing our thoughts to the normal everyday life matter these people experience, I think it would be much harder for us to ignore their existence and think of them as just someone living in a far unfamiliar land.
I keep this in mind and I continue to photograph the people of this land.