UN to transfer peacekeepers to the Central African Republic

The United Nations (UN) says it will transfer Senegalese peacekeepers from the UN quick reaction force in Ivory Coast to the Central African Republic.

The Church news agency, Misna has reiterated the news that 300 United Nations peacekeepers, ‘the blue helmets,’ from the Senegalese troops will be transferred to the Central African Republic (CAR) to strengthen the UN (MINUSCA) mission already on the ground. United Nations spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric said this week that once the UN Security Council gave the green light, they would proceed with the deployment. 

The new contingent of peacekeepers, currently part of the UN force in Ivory Coast, would be deployed for eight weeks in Central Africa. Over the next two months, CAR is expected to hold a referendum on the new Constitution and conduct a general election in December. At the end of this month, 29 to 30 November, CAR will host Pope Francis in Bangui. 

The Holy See, through the Director of the Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi has said the Holy See is continuing with preparations for the Apostolic visit of Pope Francis to Kenya, Uganda and Central Africa. However, the situation in CAR was being monitored continuously.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State said on Monday that, “The three stops remain, but we’ll see depending on the situation on the ground.” 

(e-mail: [e-mail])