EU approves military mission to CAR: Reuters
Iran Press TV
Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:35PM GMT
The European Union has approved a military mission to the Central African Republic (CAR), marking the first major operation within the past six years in the country, a media report says.
During a meeting in Brussels on Monday, European Union foreign ministers have agreed to send up to 1,000 soldiers on a self-proclaimed stabilization mission to the CAR.
Ministers approved a groundwork plan to send a battalion-sized force to back up approximately 1,600 French and 4,000 African soldiers already stationed in the violence-torn country.
Officials had earlier said the mission would be limited to four to six months with soldiers needed at Bangui Airport to take over security and relieve French troops.
However, properly detailed military plans still needed to be worked out, the news agency added.
This is while, the Baltic nation of Estonia has offered to send 55 soldiers in February.
Other diplomatic sources noted that Poland, the Czech Republic, Belgium and Spain are most likely to contribute with sending troops as well.
The Central African Republic spiraled into chaos after Christian militias launched coordinated attacks on the mostly Muslim Seleka group, who overthrew former President Francois Bozize, and brought Michel Djotodia to power in March 2013. Bozize fled the country after his ouster.
On January 10, Djotodia stepped down due to intense pressure over this government's failure to end the bloodshed in the country.
France invaded its former colony on December 5, 2013, after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution giving the African Union and France the go-ahead to send troops to the country.
GMA/AB/SL
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