France risks long stay after misjudging C.African Republic

[DonViejo]

By John Irish and Daniel Flynn

PARIS/DAKAR (Reuters) - When France sent troops to halt violence between Christians and Muslims in Central African Republic, commanders named the mission Sangaris after a local butterfly to reflect its short life. Three months later, it is clear they badly miscalculated.

Buoyed by a swift victory in last year's war against Islamists in Mali, France's military predicted six months would be enough to quell sectarian conflict in Central African Republic, which began in March when Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in the majority Christian country.

Some defence ministry officials said in private that a show of French force would be enough to restore order and no shots need be fired. With its military budget stretched by Mali, Paris gambled on sending a small force of just 1,600 men.

Now, with the country sliding into what the top U.N. human rights official termed 'ethnic-religious cleansing', as Muslims flee northward to escape vicious reprisals by Christian militia, France faces a long fight with scant support from Western allies to stop the nation of 4.5 million people splitting in two.

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http://news.yahoo.com/france-risks-long-stay-misjudging-c-african-republic-070555281.html

[JustAnotherGen]

1. I love France

But they aren't new there. The involvement is as old as me. This is one I've kept bookmarked for a few years. It help explains how deep they are in there:


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/inside-frances-secret-war-396062.html