France sends more troops to CAR after rebel attacks

Nov 23, 2006 (PARIS) — France has sent around 100 extra troops to the Central African Republic after a series of rebel attacks in the poor, landlocked country, which borders Sudan’s violent Darfur region, the French military said on Thursday.

Violence in Darfur, where tens of thousands of civilians have been killed in ethnic conflict since 2003, has spread to neighboring Central African Republic and Chad.

The two countries have both accused Sudan of supporting militias who have crossed the border from Darfur to attack and in some cases occupy villages. Sudan has repeatedly denied the accusations.

“Given the situation in CAR (Central African Republic), the Boali detachment of roughly 200 men has been reinforced in the past days with the equivalent of one company, or around 100 men,” French armed forces spokesman Christophe Prazuck said, referring to a contingent in the country.

He said the French troops, which were mainly based in the capital, Bangui, would support Central African Republic forces and a regional force sent by regional bloc CEMAC.

“Their main roles are providing logistical support for these forces, support in terms of intelligence and assistance in the planning and conduct of operations,” Prazuck added.

France is providing similar assistance in Chad, where it has land and air forces stationed permanently.

Rebels crossed the border from Darfur into Central African Republic in late October and seized the northeastern town of Birau. They demanded talks with the government, and threatened to advance on the eastern diamond mining town of Bria.

(Reuters)