France announced Sunday to be ending up its military operations in Central African Republic by the end of 2016.
According to Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, the Operation Sangaris military operation launched in CAR in December 2013 is hoped to be wrapped up and forces will be called back home with just small units remaining in the territory.
The forces were deployed at a time when thousands of civilians were dying in brutal ethnic violence.
At the peak about 2,500 soldiers were deployed to support the 10,000 UN peacekeepers and mostly in the capital Bangui. Currently there are 900 French soldiers deployed and after the halt of operation this year only 300 soldiers will remain in the country.
France said it needs the forces back home and to be redeployed in other parts of Africa and in Middle East to fight against jihadist forces.
The mainland France too need some more manpower to protect sensitive sites following the November 13 Paris attacks in 2015.
The international troops in CAR, including French forces, have been alleged of child sexual abuse and lately Le Drian has ordered for an investigation into the cases that dates back to 2014.
CAR started becoming unstable in March 2013 when the Muslim Seleka rebels ousted President Francois Bozize, who was a Christian. A new leader, Michel Djotodia, came in power for ten months. In early 2014 a transitional government was installed and later this month a presidential run-off election is due, pitting two former prime ministers against each other.
