The South African Government has assisted the government of François Bozizé in the Central African Republic militarily.[1] After 13 paratroopers were killed in the March 2013 battle for Bangui, the Zuma government came under heavy criticism and questioning for this support.[2][3][4]
Operation Morero[]
A South African National Defence Force Special Forces unit has provided personal protection for Bozizé since 2007.[1]
Operation Vimbezela[]
In 2007 Bozizé requested assistance from South Africa for training the FACA and refurbishment of military facilities. The two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 11 February 2007. In March the SANDF training and engineering personnel under the command of Col George Sibanyon. By September 2009, 123 FACA members had received leadership training, including 23 who attended courses in RSA.[5]
Anti-Séléka deployment[]
In January 2013 the SANDF deployed an additional 200 troops to the CAR, without either air or armor support. Thirteen soldiers from the 1 Parachute Battalion were killed. [4]
David Maynier, Pieter Groenewald and Pikkie Greeff are seeking an official parliamentary inquest into the SANDF's role in Bangui.[4]
See also[]
- Politics of the Central African Republic
- Central African Republic conflict (2012–present)
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 RSA 2011.
- ↑ Torchia 2013.
- ↑ AFP 2013-03-28.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 DefenseWeb 2013-03-27.
- ↑ Lufuno 2009.
References[]
- DefenseWeb (2013-03-27). "SA soldier missing in CAR found alive and well". DefenseWeb. http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29960:sa-soldier-missing-in-car-found-alive-and-well&catid=55:SANDF&Itemid=108. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
- DIRCO (2011-03-01). "Training and Support provided by the South African Army (SANDF) to the Army of the Central African Republic (CAR)". Department of International Relations and Cooperation. http://www.dfa.gov.za/docs/2011pq/pq78.html. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
- Netshirembe, Lufuno (2009-09). "Deployed soldiers, Good SANDF Ambassadors". South African Soldier. ISSN 1609-5014. http://www.dod.mil.za/sasoldier/2009/SoldSep09.pdf. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
- AFP (2013-03-27). "Call for probe into S.Africa military presence in C.Africa". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 2013-03-28. http://www.webcitation.org/6FSgzMp62. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
- Torchia, Christopher (2013-03-27). "Hard questions for South Africa over CAR battle". AP. Johannesburg. http://hosted2.ap.org/OHCAN/CREPnewswire/Article_2013-03-27-South%20Africa-Central%20African%20Republic/id-4c9a45da48814017a637f223acd191b2. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
The original article can be found at South African military assistance to the Central African Republic and the edit history here.