adminN’DJAMENA. — Chad announced yesterday it was withdrawing from the African peacekeeping force in the violence-torn Central African Republic after being accused of siding with a mainly Muslim movement that held power for most of last year.Chad came under the spotlight last weekend when at least 24 people were killed and another 100 seriously wounded by Chadian soldiers sent to repatriate their compatriots from the mainly Christian CAR, according to officials there.
The Chadian government said it was pulling out from the peacekeeping force because of “a wanton and malicious campaign” against its troops, one it said aimed to make them “bear the responsibility” for all the country’s troubles.
“Faced with these repeated accusations, Chad . . . is deciding to withdraw the Chadian contingent from the MISCA (peacekeeping force),” the government statement said.
It said the practical steps of the withdrawal will be tackled in “common agreement” between Chad and the African Union.
“In the meantime Chad will assume without fail its peace mission in the zones it is responsible for in the CAR,” said the statement, which did not give details about the areas.
Chadian soldiers have been accused of siding with the mainly Muslim Seleka movement — which seized power in March 2013 and held it until January this year — and of showing passivity toward abuses some of them carried out against the population. — AFP.
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