World View: France Sends Troops to Central African Republic

This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

• France sends troops to Central African Republic in chaos
• France’s army confronts Islamist fighters in northern Mali
• Leader of Syria’s National Coalition resigns
• Israel fires surface-to-surface missile into Syria
• Politicians work all night to break Cyprus deadlock

France sends troops to Central African Republic in chaos

Seleka rebels pose for photo op in front of suburban gendarmerie (police station) in January (Getty)

A rebel coalition calling itself “Seleka” has attacked the capitalcity Bangui of Central African Republic (CAR) on Sunday, in a fiercebattle that killed nine South African soldiers, among 400 that weredeployed in the country as military trainers. President FrancoisBozize was forced to flee, and is thought to be in hiding in theneighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. Bangui, a city of 600,000people, is itself is in total chaos, with open looting and violence.France is calling for an emergency meeting of United Nations SecurityCouncil. France already had 250 soldiers in Central African Republic,and is sending another 300 troops, to stabilize the situation andprovide protection for the 1,200 French citizens in the country.South Africa will send additional troops as well. CAR is 80%Christian. Reuters

France’s army confronts Islamist fighters in northern Mali

Mali’s army, backed by troops from France and Chad, say that they’verepelled attack on the city of Gao in northern Mali by al-Qaeda linkedIslamists. The Islamists had controlled Gao for 10 months, until theywere driven out by French forces in an operation that began inJanuary. It’s thought that the Islamists have been hiding in caves inthe surrounding area, preparing to return when the French forcesleave. France has 4,000 troops in Mali, and hopes to being withdrawalat the end of April. AFP

Leader of Syria’s National Coalition resigns

The leader of Syria’s opposition National Coalition, Ahmed Moazal-Khatib, has resigned, following a meeting with the European Unionwhich, he said has achieved nothing:

“I announce my resignation from the NationalCoalition, so that I can work with a freedom that cannot possiblybe had in an official institution.

For the past two years, we have been slaughtered by anunprecedentedly vicious regime, while the world has looked on.

All the destruction of Syria’s infrastructure, the detention oftens of thousands of people, the forced flight of hundreds ofthousands and other forms of suffering have been insufficient forthe international community to take a decision to allow the peopleto defend themselves.”

His description of what’s been going on is certainly accurate. Thevarious “peace plans” put forward by the European Union, the UnitedNations, and the Arab League, have all been total farces and haveactually made the situation worse, because the regime of Basharal-Assad has used them as a cover, pretending to be working for peacewhile stepping up massive attacks on innocent women and children incities across the country, with the full support and cooperation withthe Russians. The Syria situation makes a mockery and a joke of theUnited Nations. Al Jazeera

Israel fires surface-to-surface missile into Syria

Israel’s army fired a surface-to-surface missile from Golan into Syriaon Sunday, destroying a Syrian army position. The missile was aresponse to gunfire from Syria that targeted Israeli soldierspatrolling the border. Reportedly, two Syrian soldiers were wounded.Jerusalem Post

Politicians work all night to break Cyprus deadlock

Cyprus’s politicians, meeting with European finance ministers inBrussels, are working around the clock to convince the Europeans thatthey’ve done enough to deserve the 10 billion euro bailout. TheEuropeans want Cyprus to come up with more money by restructuring thebanking system and by levying money from depositors. It now appearsthat accounts containing over 100,000 euros will face a levy of 25%.If no deal is reached on Monday, then Cyprus’s banks may collapsecompletely on Tuesday. In anticipation, the Cyprus central bank isimposing a daily withdrawal limit of 100 euros form ATMs, to prevent abank run. AP

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