CEMAC leaders appeal for more money to fund force

Leaders of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States (CEMAC), have appealed to donors for more funds to be able to incorporate Chadian troops into the CEMAC force in the Central African Republic (CAR), CEMAC said on Wednesday. "The size of the force will depend on the donors' generosity," Martin Mavoungou, the commander-in-chief of CEMAC in CAR, told IRIN. Mavoungou said that donors, who include China, France and Germany, had agreed to fund a force of 350 men. A summit in Brazzaville on 21 March agreed in principle that Chadian troops would be integrated into the force, but to do so, more money would be needed to fund the extra men. The CEMAC force in CAR was originally brought in to protect the former president, Ange-Felix Patasse, and to secure the CAR-Chad border. On 15 March Patasse was ousted in a coup by Francois Bozize. Four days later, some 400 Chadian troops entered the country to secure the capital, Bangui, for Bozize. CEMAC leaders are currently discussing a new mandate for the force. "The number of Chadians is yet to be fixed in accordance with the force's budget," Mavoungou said.