Central African Republic receives additional US help

The US has extended additional support to the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA).

The US has provided deployment airlift assistance to two MISCA battalions, 100 radios to facilitate command and control and promised 200 more vehicles, Xinhua reported

Earlier Wednesday, US Permanent Representative to the United Nations(UN), Ambassador Samantha Power, handed over 37 vehicles to MISCA at a ceremony held in the capital city of CAR Bangui, a statement from the African Union (AU) said Friday.

Special Representative of the AU commission and head of MISCA, Gen. Jean Marie Michel Mokoko, has voiced his appreciation to the US government for the political, diplomatic and logistical support it has extended to MISCA since the Mission was launched Dec 19, 2013.

The UN Security Council (UNSC) Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution to authorise a 11,800-strong UN peacekeeping force for the CAR to stop violence in the country.

The peacekeeping force comprises of 10,000 military personnel, including 240 military observers and 200 staff officers, and 1,800 police personnel.

In December 2013, the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of 2,000 French soldiers and 6,000 African soldiers to help restore order in Bangui. Unfortunately, violence perpetrated by the anti-Balaka militia and the ex-Seleka rebels has continued across the country.