Operation Sangaris

Part of the Central African Republic Civil War (2012–present)

French troops positionned in Bangui on 22 December 2013.

Date

5 December 2013 - 30 October 2016 (2 years, 10 months, 3 weeks and 6 days)

Location

Central African Republic

Result

Operation success

France claim to have succeeded in its mission to stop fighting in C.A.R.
Some 350 French soldiers will remain in the country to assist MINUSCA

Belligerents

France

Séléka

Anti-balaka

Commanders and leaders

Commandant:

General Francisco Soriano (5 December 2013 - 17 June 2014)
Éric Bellot des Minières (17 June 2014 - 29 March 2015)
Brig. General Pierre Gillet (29 March 2015 - 21 September 2015)
Col. Nicolas Guisse (21 September 2015 - 23 February 2016)
Col. François Beaucournu (23 February 2016 - 20 June 2016)
Col. Tran Do Maxime (20 June 2016 - 31 October 2016)

Unknown

Strength

2,000 men (up from an initial 1,600)

Unknown

Casualties and losses

3 killed

Unknown

Operation success

Séléka

Commandant:

Operation Sangaris is a military intervention of the French military in the Central African Republic, from late 2013 till 2016. It has been the 7th French military intervention there since the independence of the country in 1960. On 30 October 2016, France announced it officially ended Operation Sangaris.

According to Jean-Vincent Brisset, senior researcher at Iris, the name refers to the African butterfly Cymothoe sangaris, and was chosen because "butterflies are not dangerous, do not last very long, are considered pretty and are politically correct".

In late 2012, President François Bozizé requested international aid from France and the USA to fend off the Séléka, a rebel movement that had progressed to the vicinity of the capital Bangui. The Séléka is a Muslim and Northern movement fighting the Catholic South. In March 2013, Michel Djotodia ousted Bozizé from power and became the first Muslim President of the country.

In October 2013, fighting broke out between Séléka elements and Christian self-defence militias called anti-balakas, and the State lost its ability to maintain order.

The United Nations and the French government started voicing concerns of potential genocide.

On 5 December 2013, Resolution 2127 was unanimously voted by the United Nations Security Council to allow an African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA) to be deployed for a 12-month duration to restore order and end religious tensions. The MISCA is supported by French forces authorised to use any necessary means.

From 24 November 2013, around 30 personnel of the 25e régiment du génie de l'air, stationed in Libreville, were deployed at Bangui M'Poko International Airport. They were equipped with around 20 heavy engineering machines, sent over in an Antonov An-124 · This group, quickly reinforced with elements from Istres-Le Tubé Air Base, was tasked with the restoration of the runways and of the logistic areas, as well as enlarging the passenger zones. This aimed at making the airport suitable for the arrival of the French force and its likely reinforcements.

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Wikipedia