Blue helmets reinforce presence near town in eastern CAR

Peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR) have been deployed to an area near Bambari after halting the advance of a rebel coalition on the eastern town this past weekend.

The blue helmets are serving at the UN mission in the country, MINUSCA, whose chief mandate is to protect civilians.

MINUSCA has urged the rebel group, known as the FPRC, and its rival, known as the UPC, to immediately cease hostilities.

UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq reports that: "On Saturday, members of the coalition led by the Front Populaire pour la Renaissance de Centrafrique were approaching Bambari, increasing the threat of violent clashes in the town.  The UN mission had no other choice but to stop the advance of the group and the threat it posed, and a helicopter from the UN mission intervened." 

The mission reports that UN peacekeepers established a temporary operating base at Tagbara bridge to prevent further movement of the FPRC coalition towards Bambari.
 
Peacekeepers, including special forces, were also deployed to the area. 

The UN mission reiterates its call to both the Mouvement pour l'Unité et la Paix en Centrafrique (UPC) and the FPRC coalition to immediately cease hostilities and to resolve this dispute through dialogue.

SOURCE: UN Radio