The Pentagon has agreed to provide airlift support to enable African forces deploy in the Central African Republic to help the French forces prevent further bloodshed and ward off spread of sectarian violence in the impoverished African.
The UN Security Council has authorized France to assist the African Union-led international support mission to provide humanitarian aid and establish an environment that supports a political transition to a democratically elected government.
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has ordered U.S. AFRICOM to begin transporting forces from Burundi to the Central African Republic, in coordination with France.
Through this support, the United States says it backs the international community efforts and joint actions to avert a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe in the Central African Republic.
According to some experts, the international community’s rapid engagement in CAR will help foster peace and security in the region.
The United Nations warned last month the landlocked nation of 4.6 million people was at risk of spiraling into genocide and France described its former colony as “on the verge of genocide.”
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft is expected to carry hundreds of African Union troops from Burundi to the Central African Republic, where France has deployed 1,600 troops since Saturday to try to quell the violence.
More than 2,500 African Union troops are deployed in the Central African Republic. That number is expected reach 3,600 by January.
Washington pledged $40 million to support the African Union forces mission in Central African Republic which has plunged into violence in March when a rebel group “Seleka rebel alliance”, made up mostly of Muslim fighters, many of them from neighboring Chad and Sudan, conquered the capital, Bangui, and overthrew President Francois Bozize.
Seleka leader Michel Djotodia has named himself president March 24. And since then, Muslims et Christians of Central African country are engaged in relentless and bloody fightings, leaving the failing state in complete chaos and mess.
