 |
| credit: Reuters |
After days of rampant killing, French troops backed by helicopters and armored vehicles restored order in the streets of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic over the weekend. Muslim bands of Seleka fighters have pillaged and slaughtered at least 400 persons since last Thursday. It was feared the attacks could ignite a civil war, so the UN
Security Council authorized French military action last Thursday. French forces plan to move into the countryside to prevent revenge attacks by Christian vigilantes and
disarm Muslim fighters. The Bangui disorders began when Christian "anti-balaka" militias attacked Muslims. The nominal head of government, Michel Djotodia expressed gratitude for the French intervention in it's former colony. Djotodia is a Muslim himself and was installed last March as the country's first Muslim president in a predominately Christian nation. He rapidly lost control of his own forces in a country that has basically collapsed. Half of the population is said to be in need of humanitarian aid and the prospect of severe food shortages and famine is at hand.
Once again French President Hollande had to make it clear the
1600 man French force is intervening for humanitarian purposes, not to prop up a dysfunctional government. France recently intervened in Mali, another former colony, when Islamist rebels threatened to overrun the central government. That intervention was largely successful. A 2,500 man force from the African Union is also in the Republic, but has remained inactive. French troops hope to use AU soldiers to support their peacekeeping role. Saying it was "France's duty to act", President Hollande expressed optimism that the killing will be stopped shortly. The Central African Republic has been independent only since 1960.
