France to end military operations in C. Africa in October: Hollande

By AFP

Central African Republic French President Francois Hollande and Central Africa's President Faustin Touadera visit the KM5 area in Bangui on May 13, 2016. By Stephane De Sakutin POOLAFPFile

JUL 13, 2016 LISTEN

French President Francois Hollande and Central Africa's President Faustin Touadera visit the KM5 area in Bangui on May 13, 2016. By Stephane De Sakutin (POOL/AFP/File)

Paris (AFP) - President Francois Hollande announced on Wednesday that France would end its military mission in the Central African Republic in October.

"Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will go to the Central African Republic next October to officially declare the end of Operation Sangaris," Hollande said at a reception at the defence ministry.

Operation Sangaris was launched in December 2013 in a bid to still violence between Christian and Muslim militias that left thousands dead and drove half a million people from their homes.

The force, which at its peak had 2,500 troops, has been progressively scaled back, being reduced to 350 personnel in June.

In a bid to suppress the sectarian violence, the UN has sent a peacekeeping force known as MINUSCA, comprising 12,600 foreign police and soldiers, as well as more than 500 foreign civilian staff.