Central African Republic: emergency deployment of French reinforcements

(BRUSSELS2) French soldiers (around 300) from the French Forces in Gabon (FFG) arrived as reinforcements in Bangui (Central African Republic) on the night of March 22 to 23, 2013 and during the day of March 24. Objective: to ensure, if necessary, the security of French nationals and diplomatic assets and to supplement the personnel already present on site as part of Operation Boali. The French military notably secured Bangui airport in order to facilitate the evacuation of French and European nationals if necessary. But on Sunday, no evacuation order had been given; the instruction given to residents was to stay at home.

Around 600 men are in Bangui. On site we find, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the French soldiers of the Boali operation, including a company of the 1^er  infantry regiment (1^er RI) stationed at Bangui airport; a tactical staff of 6^e marine infantry battalion (6^e BIMa), a company of porpoises from the 8^e Marine infantry parachute regiment (8^e RPIMa) and a company from 3^e RIMa, who were from “ mission of short time " in Gabon.

Bad luck for them mission turned into an alert...