Congo sends another contingent of peacekeepers to Central African Republic

The Republic of Congo has sent its second contingent to Bangui, capital of Central African Republic, to boost a regional peace mission in the conflict- stricken country. The contingent of 200 officers of the Congolese Armed Forces (FAC) on Sunday left for Bangui to join in the Central African Peace Consolidation Mission (MICOPAX). MICOPAX, the 1,400-strong mission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), will soon be transformed into an African Union (AU) mission comprising 3,600 peacekeepers. Just before the departure of the Congolese contingent, FAC's Chief of General Staff Guy Blanchard urged them to conduct themselves well on the soil of Central African Republic. "The Republic of Congo government has made available to you the necessary resources to ensure your mission will be accomplished successfully. We are therefore counting on you to behave in an exemplary manner, especially in terms of competence, discipline, ethics and unity," he said. The second Congolese contingent flew to Bangui in company of vehicles for the troops' intervention and transportation. Placed under the command of Capt. Ange Wilfried Aboni Angoya, the contingent will join 150 other Congolese officers who left Brazzaville for Bangui on July 27. The FAC chief of general staff reminded the troops of their assignment to participate in peace consolidation in Central African Republic. "You are peace ambassadors and not ambassadors of evil. Be humane in your interventions, and do not add more suffering to the Central African Republic's people who have already suffered a lot. Any deviant behavior amongst you will be severely punished," he warned the departing soldiers. Central African Republic entered an 18-month transition after the ex-rebel group Seleka seized power in March. The country has witnessed repeated coups since independence from France in 1960.