( CNN ) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday warned officials in the embattled Central African Republic not to repeat the mistakes that led to the Rwanda genocide 20 years ago . In a speech to the country 's National Transitional Council in the capital city , Bangui , the leader of the international body also urged the world not to `` look away '' from the nation 's turmoil . `` Some say this is a forgotten crisis , '' Ban said . `` I am here to help make sure the world does not forget . '' The Central African Republic , a former French colony , plunged into chaos last year after a coalition of mostly Muslim rebels ousted President Francois Bozize . They have since been forced out of power , but Christian and Muslim militias continue to battle for control . Thousands have died during the fighting and 2.2 million people , about half the country 's population , are in need of humanitarian aid , according to the U.N. More than 650,000 people are still internally displaced , and nearly 300,000 have fled to neighboring countries in search of refuge . U.N.L Soldiers from Chad killed civilians in neighboring CAR . The latest setback comes in the form of charges by the U.N. 's human rights office that soldiers from neighboring Chad attacked civilians in a Bangui market last month . According to a preliminary report from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights , the soldiers killed nearly 30 civilians and injured 300 more on March 29 . Investigators said the Chadian soldiers were not part of the African-led peacekeeping force , which is meant to stabilize the Central African Republic , but a group that appeared to have returned to Chad after the attack . Just before the U.N. published its preliminary findings of the attack , Chad decided to withdraw its 850 troops from the peacekeeping force , a move the chairwoman of the African Union said is understandable . Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said Chad had been the target of repeated attacks by Christian militia elements and unfounded allegations by a number of actors . `` The stigmatization of the Chadian contingent has contributed to the establishment of a climate of insecurity and hostility for which the nationals of that country had paid a heavy price , '' Dlamini-Zuma said in a statement . Rwanda : Remembering -- and trying to forget . In his speech Saturday , Ban stressed that the international community has an obligation to act , warning that the Central African Republic is `` at risk of partition . '' `` The international community failed the people of Rwanda 20 years ago , '' Ban said . `` And we are at risk of not doing enough for the people of the C.A.R . today . '' In 1994 , Hutu extremists in Rwanda targeted ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus in a three-month killing spree that left an estimated 800,000 people dead . After his visit to the Central African Republic , the U.N. Secretary-General travels to Rwanda for the ceremonies observing the 20th anniversary of the genocide there . Ban thanked the African Union-led peacekeeping force , as well as the French forces , for their efforts to maintain order in the country . He said there are preparations for a U.N. presence in the Central African Republic , but peacekeepers `` will not arrive right away , '' as their deployment depends on decisions from the Security Council . What 's behind the turmoil in the Central African Republic . CNN 's Nana Karikari-Apau contributed to this report .
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon tells Chad not to repeat Rwandan genocide . Muslim and Christian militias have been battling for control in the nation . Central African Republic pulls 2.2 million troops from African -led peacekeeping force after allegation of attack by its soldiers . Preparations for a U.N. peacekeeping force are under way , but it would need Security Council approval .