CAR: United Nations To Send 7 600 peacekeepers to replace African Force

By Staff Writer

The first batch of 7 600 soldiers and police forming the United Nations (UN) force will take over peacekeeping duties in Central African Republic of Congo (CAR) from the African force on 15 September, said Babacar Gaye on Tuesday August 19.

Gaye, UN envoy to the war-torn country, addressed the media after a closed door briefing to the UN Security Council chaired by Peter Wilson, Britain's deputy ambassador, that this represents about 65% of the nearly 12 000-strong force authorized by the council in April 2014.

Fighting erupted in CAR after an alliance of Muslim rebel groups known as the Seleka overthrew the long-time president in March 2013, looting, raping and killing civilians at random which lead to an armed Christian movement known as the anti-Balaka, supported by the ex-president's loyalists to retaliate, sparking sectarian bloodshed.

In January 2014, Seleka was forced from power with tens of thousands of Muslims fleeing to neighboring countries and thousands killed, and despite a cease-fire reached and signed on 23 July violence has continued.

With the help of UN, a transitional government was put in place, with about 2 000 French troops and nearly 6 000 African peacekeepers deployed to help stabilize the country.

Gaye said 5 800 members of the African force will be "rehatted" in UN blue berets and become part of the UN force, along with 1 800 fresh troops.

Wilson said that while the security situation has improved in the capital, Bangui, "in the rest of the country the situation remains extremely serious and the situation for civilians is very worrying".

"Militia groups continue to attack, and there are vulnerable populations who need protection," he said. "A clear focus of the peacekeeping mission is on protection of civilians."

Gaye said that exactly a year ago he urged the council to take action and since then it has adopted four resolutions and authorized a peacekeeping mission. Now, there has been "international mobilization" for the CAR, and a political process has started.

"The road will be bumpy," Gaye said, "but we'll be pushing behind so we can reach the goal which is to stabilize the country and hold free, fair and democratic elections."

Gaye said this was strong support in the council as well as regionally and internationally for maintaining CAR territorial integrity and not allowing the north to break away.