Over 1,140 more UN peacekeepers expected in the country ahead of the December 2015 elections.
The United Nations Organisation (UNO) is preparing to send security reinforcement to the Central African Republic to curb insecurity and rising wave of violence in the country before, during and after the announced referendum slated for December 13, 2015 and the legislative and presidential elections planned for December 27, 2015.
News agencies cite a UN official who said two companies of UN peacekeepers serving in West Africa could temporarily been sent to the Central African Republic. He said Egypt will send 750 soldiers and Mauritania 140 Policemen, which will bring the total number of troops deployed for the reinforcement to 1,140. The new troops will add to the current 12,000 UN peacekeepers in the country.
Reports also say the United National Integrated Multidimensional Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) also plans to fly its first drones over Bangui during this period. Security measures are also said to be stepped up in the Central African Republic taking into account Pope Francis planned visit to the country slated for November 29 to 30, 2015. A UN official who asked not to be named, reportedly said MINUSCA plans to strengthen security before elections, stating that reinforcement needs to be already in place before the visit of the Pope.
The urgency for the UN to reinforce security in the Central African Republic is more so justified by the killing of a UN peacekeeper during fighting between the rival armed groups, ex-Seleka and Anti-balaka in the town of Batangafo located some 400 km North of the capital, Bangui. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon condemned Tuesday, November 10, 2015 incident and called on the Central African Republic authorities to react fast in sending perpetrators of the killing to court, the Chinese News agency, Xinhua reported citing the statement from Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman Stéphane Dujarric. Militants of the two armed groups in the camp for displaced people in Batangafo reportedly attacked MINUSCA forces on a control mission within the vicinity.
