UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric announced on Monday that it would redeploy some 300 blue-berets made up of Senegalese troops from the UN quick reaction force in Ivory Coast into CAR.
CAR slid into inter-religious violence some two and a half years ago after mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power, sparking reprisal killings by Christian anti-Balaka militias.
Under heavy international pressure, Seleka later handed power over to a transitional government.
On December 27, the long-delayed presidential and parliamentary elections are due to take place.
Nonetheless, the tensions in the country, along with a potential visit by Pope Francis, later this month, have emphasised the need for improved security.
Later this week, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will send a letter to the global body’s Security Council requesting approval for the move.
If approved, the peacekeepers will bolster CAR’s security for about eight weeks in light of the current security circumstances.
The UN peacekeeping mission in CAR will also be boosted with an additional 750 troops and 140 police.
CAR currently has some 9,100 peacekeepers and about 1,500 police, and some of the proposed reinforcements will be in place before the pope’s visit.
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