IMF approves $11.8 million in aid for Central African Republic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund's Executive Board has approved about $11.8 million in financial assistance for Central African Republic, the IMF said on Tuesday.

The assistance, under the IMF's Rapid Credit Facility, is to help Central African Republic meet urgent balance of payments needs and to support its emergency economic recovery programme, the IMF said in a statement.

The board's approval on Monday followed a disbursement of about $7.9 million to Central African Republic in March under the Rapid Credit Facility.

Thousands of Central Africans have died and hundreds of thousands remain displaced from two years of violence that erupted after mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in the majority Christian country in 2013.

France intervened in its former colony in 2013 and a U.N. peacekeeping force was established in 2014.

Voters are due to go to the polls on Oct. 18 to choose a new president and parliament to replace an interim government led by Catherine Samba-Panza. But preparations are running behind and the head of the interim parliament said the polls are likely to be postponed again.

"Economic prospects for 2016 are positive, with real GDP growth being projected at 5.7 percent, but risks remain high, including a protracted transition and lower external support," the IMF said.

"This new disbursement would also help the authorities address their urgent balance of payments needs and enable an orderly shift to the post-transition phase that should start after the elections," the statement said.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Will Dunham)