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UN sanctions Central African Republic ex-president

By WTOP Staff

EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations has imposed sanctions on the Central African Republic’s former president Francois Bozize and two rebel leaders for undermining peace and fueling violence in the conflict-torn country.

They are the first Central Africans to be sanctioned under a U.N. Security Council resolution adopted in January.

An alliance of Muslim rebel groups known as the Seleka overthrew Bozize in March 2013. They quickly became despised by Christians in the capital after Muslim fighters went on looting sprees, raping and killing civilians at random. An armed Christian movement known as the anti-Balaka, aided by Bozize loyalists, began retaliating several months later, sparking sectarian bloodshed.

Seleka was forced from power in January, a transitional government has been established, and about 2,000 French troops and nearly 5,000 African peacekeepers are trying to stabilize the country, which is about the size of Texas. But the violence continues and tens of thousands of Muslims have fled to the north or to neighboring countries, a displacement the United Nations has described as “ethnic cleansing.”

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power on Saturday welcomed the unanimous decision by the Security Council committee established to monitor sanctions on the Central African to impose an asset freeze and travel ban on Bozize, Seleka leader Nourredine Adam and anti-Balaka political coordinator Levy Yakete.

Diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because committee discussions were private, said Russia and China initially held up the designation of Bozize but recently gave a green light.

“Those who orchestrate violence and foment instability in CAR must be held accountable for their actions,” Power said in a statement. “These designations are a small step in the right direction.”

She said the Security Council “will continue to review additional designations of those responsible for undermining stability and tormenting the people of CAR.”

Central Africans in the capital Bangui had differing opinions about the sanctions, with some saying Bozize was being scapegoated and others praising the move against the former president. Still others thought the sanctions didn’t go far enough.

“It’s weak as a sanction, Seleka wasn’t sufficiently punished after all that they did,” said Robert Mapika, a 30-year-old law student.

According to a sanctions committee note obtained by The Associated Press, Bozize provided financial and material support to anti-Balaka militiamen working to destabilize the current transition and to bring him back to power. He also called on his militia to commit atrocities against the current transitional government and the Islamists.

The committee said Yakete supports Bozize’s return and has been accused of ordering the arrest of people connected to Seleka, calling for attacks on those who don’t support the ex-president, and recruiting young militiamen to attack opponents with machetes.

Adam was one of the original Seleka leaders and was military coordinator of its offensives between early December 2012 and March 2013, the committee said, and without his involvement the Seleka would have been unlikely to oust Bozize. He still directs operations against Christian neighborhoods and provides significant support to the ex-Seleka operating in the country, it said.

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Associated Press writer Steve Niko in Bangui, Central African Republic, contributed to this report

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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