29/01/2014 17:15
U.N. authorizes use of force in CAR
The U.N. Security Council voted Tuesday to not only continue its peacekeepers' mission in the tumultuous Central African Republic but to authorize the use of force by European Union troops there, the world body said, according to CNN.
The decision came just over a week after the nation tapped Catherine Samba-Panza, the mayor of the capital of Bangui, as its interim president.
She replaced Michel Djotodia, the leader of the Seleka rebels who seized power in March only to step down earlier this month after failing to halt the escalating violence in the country.
Those dangers remain high, the U.N. said in a news release Tuesday explaining the Security Council's vote.
Specifically, the United Nations pointed to the "increasing cycle of violence and retaliation" and the "continuing deterioration of the security situation" in the Central African Republic.
The U.N. peacekeeping mandate in that country now extends through January 31, 2015. The new vote also includes banning travel and freezing assets of some involved in the conflict, on top of an existing arms embargo.
The resolution was adopted unanimously by the 15-member Security Council.