France Expands Operations in the Central African Republic

French forces in the Central African Republic will be more active in securing select population centers than they had been willing to be in the past, but it is still unlikely that they will rid the country of rebels. Since the Dec. 5 U.N. Security Council resolution that granted a mandate for African Union and French forces to intervene in the Central African Republic, France has deployed an increasing number of troops to the African nation. Roughly 1,600 French troops are currently in the country and have started patrolling the capital, Bangui, as well as other areas in the west.

The change in scope increases French involvement from delivering support and conducting patrols in Bangui and less volatile regions to actively pursuing the remaining rebel forces in the capital and other population centers. The larger commitment could help secure several population centers that have seen escalated violence in recent months.