Paris, Dec 18 (IANS) French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius Tuesday said that some European countries will send troops to the Central African Republic (CAR) to help French and African soldiers to restore order in the African country.
“We will soon have troops on the ground provided by our European colleagues,” Xinhua quoted the French top diplomat as saying in parliament.
Fabius, however, did not give details on the participating countries in the Paris-led offensive to disarm fighting sectarian groups in the restless country.
The minister Sunday urged in an interview with local media a “solid” and “stronger” European help by providing not only logistic support but also by sending troops on the ground.
Paris has already deployed 1,600 soldiers in the CAR after escalating violence in the capital Bangui left more than 600 people dead.
Last Tuesday, two French soldiers were killed during an operation to disarm fighting groups, the first casualties of the Sangaris mission, France’s second military operation in Africa this year.