France has revealed that it will end its military intervention in the Central African Republic this year, saying that it has achieved its objective of restoring security to the country after three years of conflict, AFP reports the French defence minister to have said.
“I can confirm to you the end of Operation Sangaris during the course of 2016,” Jean-Yves Le Drian said in the capital Bangui.
Le Drian added that French troops have succeeded in restoring calm even if “everything is not resolved.”
France launched Operation Sangaris in December 2013, when thousands were dying in conflict after rebels overthrew the government of Francois Bozize.
The country’s former Prime Minister Faustin-Archange Touadera was inaugurated as the president on Wednesday following his victory in the first election held since conflict erupted.
