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| Francois Holland |
French President, FranÇois Holland has ruled out his country's intervention in the Central African Republic, a former French colony.
''If we are present, it is not to protect a regime, it is to protect our nationals and our interests, and in no way to intervene in the internal affairs of a country, in this case Central Africa, those days are over" he said.
This is a departure from french policy of intervening in internal affairs of its former colonies in Africa. Since the end of coloniation in the 1960s, French troops have helped former colonies whose regimes were on the verge of being toppled.
The president of the Central African Republic, FranÇois Bozize, in 2003 came into power through a military coup and became a civilian president in 2011 after winning elections with 64.37% of the vote.
He is now under attack from rebels who accused him of failing to abide by terms of peace deals signed between 2007-2011.
unimpressed by Hollande's refusal, Bozize appealled to ''our cousins'' in France and United States to come to his country's aid and help to push back the rebels so that talks can take place in Libreville, Gabon.
Meanwhile United Nations has ordered more than 200 non-essential staff and families of other workers to leave the country because of the rebel offensive.
United states also warned its citizens to leave the country ''until the security situation improves''.
The Central African force, FOMAC, the only allied troop in the country at the moment has promised to send more troops to secure the capital.
FOMAC commander Feneral Jean-Felix Akaga said on national radio that ''Bangui is fully secured by the troops. Others will arrive to help reinforce this mission of securing Bangui'' he said.
''If we are present, it is not to protect a regime, it is to protect our nationals and our interests, and in no way to intervene in the internal affairs of a country, in this case Central Africa, those days are over" he said.
This is a departure from french policy of intervening in internal affairs of its former colonies in Africa. Since the end of coloniation in the 1960s, French troops have helped former colonies whose regimes were on the verge of being toppled.
The president of the Central African Republic, FranÇois Bozize, in 2003 came into power through a military coup and became a civilian president in 2011 after winning elections with 64.37% of the vote.
He is now under attack from rebels who accused him of failing to abide by terms of peace deals signed between 2007-2011.
unimpressed by Hollande's refusal, Bozize appealled to ''our cousins'' in France and United States to come to his country's aid and help to push back the rebels so that talks can take place in Libreville, Gabon.
Meanwhile United Nations has ordered more than 200 non-essential staff and families of other workers to leave the country because of the rebel offensive.
United states also warned its citizens to leave the country ''until the security situation improves''.
The Central African force, FOMAC, the only allied troop in the country at the moment has promised to send more troops to secure the capital.
FOMAC commander Feneral Jean-Felix Akaga said on national radio that ''Bangui is fully secured by the troops. Others will arrive to help reinforce this mission of securing Bangui'' he said.
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