AFRICA IN CRISIS: U.S. Abandons Embassy, France Won’t Intervene

[Draggingtree]

The Other McCain:

AFRICA IN CRISIS: U.S. Abandons Embassy, France Won’t Intervene

 

Posted on | December 28, 2012 |

 

The U.S. State Department has evacuated its embassy staff from the Central African Republic, as armed rebels threaten the capital of Bangui:

President François Bozizé of the Central African Republic has appealed for French and US help to stop rebel forces that threaten to overrun the country’s capital. The US has evacuated its embassy and the United Nations is also pulling out its staff.

The United States evacuated its embassy in the Central African Republic as the nation’s embattled leader appealed for French and US help after rebels seized large swathes of the mineral-rich country. . . .

The rebel coalition known as Seleka — which means “alliance” in the country’s Sango language — has seized four regional capitals, including a diamond mining hub, since its fighters took up arms on December 10. . . .

Central African Republic, with a population of about 4.5 million, has seen frequent coups and mutinies since independence from France in 1960. It ranks 179 out of 187 on the UN development index.

Becca Lower points out that the only place you can find the latest breaking news on this escalating catastrophe is .

[Draggingtree]

Obama: US troops sent to aid evacuation of diplomats in Central African Republic

By Kyle Balluck - 12/29/12 06:30 PM ET

President Obama sent approximately 50 U.S. military personnel to Chad earlier this week to aid in the evacuation of U.S. embassy personnel and U.S. citizens from the neighboring Central African Republic.

In a letter to congressional leaders on Saturday http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/africa/274873-obama-us-troops-aided-in-evacuation-of-diplomats-in-central-african-republic