The democratic election of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra in the December 2015-February 2016 presidential elections offered hope of a new era for the Central African Republic (CAR), which has long been troubled by periodic surges in violence. However, the window of opportunity created by the election to implement a successful peace agreement and introduce necessary institutional reform to promote national unity is rapidly diminishing. This paper offers an analysis of the roots of conflict in CAR, identifies factors of resilience which should be capitalized on move the country towards national reconciliation, and offers a brief summary of the potential for the emergence and spread of violent extremism.