France is to send 400 additional troops to the Central African Republic, raising its total deployment to 2,000.The French military has been working with 5,500 troops from African countries to end more than a year of deadly ethnic and sectarian violence. President Francois Hollande called on the United Nations to speed up the deployment of peacekeepers to CAR.

Tens of thousands of Muslims have fled as the Anti-Balaka militia have stepped up their attacks in recent weeks. The militia claim to be taking revenge for atrocities committed by the Seleka rebels last year. They accuse their victims of supporting the Seleka rebel group that seized power in March 2013, but was forced out last month.

France is to send 400 additional troops to the Central African Republic, raising its total deployment to 2,000.The French military has been working with 5,500 troops from African countries to end more than a year of deadly ethnic and sectarian violence. President Francois Hollande called on the United Nations to speed up the deployment of peacekeepers to CAR.

Tens of thousands of Muslims have fled as the Anti-Balaka militia have stepped up their attacks in recent weeks. The militia claim to be taking revenge for atrocities committed by the Seleka rebels last year. They accuse their victims of supporting the Seleka rebel group that seized power in March 2013, but was forced out last month.

Many Muslims have crossed the borders into neighbouring Cameroon and Chad, while thousands more are living in camps inside CAR. Amnesty International has described the situation in the former French colony as “ethnic cleansing”, but CAR’s president rejected the label and said it was a security issue.

French troops have been on the ground in the country since December. Mr Hollande also urged the European Union to speed up the deployment of a 500-strong Eufor mission. “All of the enemies of peace will be fought,” the French president’s office said in a statement, according to AFP. “There will be no impunity for those who commit crimes.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said earlier this week that violence was worsening and he was concerned it could spiral into genocide. Mr Ban said he asked France to consider sending additional troops because the international response to the crisis did “not yet match the gravity of the situation”. He told the Security Council in November the situation could require a UN force of up to 9,000 troops and 1,700 police.

The UN’s World Food Programme, which has been airlifting supplies into CAR from Cameroon, says that about 1.3 million people – a quarter of the population – are in need of aid.

Culled from BBC

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Central African Republic to get more French troops to tackle unrest