France deploys 1,600 troops to CAR

The French Defence Minister, Jean-Yves Le- Drian, said on Thursday in Bangui that the UN would probably have to renew a French mandate for French troops to restore order in Central African Republic, CAR, when it expires in May.

He said France deployed 1,600 troops to CAR in December to try to stem violence between Christian militias and largely Muslim Seleka rebels who ousted President Francois Bozize in March, 2013.

Mr. Le Drian said the renewal became necessary because of the recent warning by the Human Rights Watch that the Seleka fighters who fled the capital Bangui have regrouped in the northeast and begun attacks on civilians.

He said that the French mission had helped ease tensions and that the situation was improving day by day.

“The situation in Bangui has more or less stabilised but in the rest of the country it is much more complicated,” he said.

(Reuters/NAN)