The US embassy in Central African Republic has brought its operation to a halt as the ambassador along with 40 diplomats have left the country on Thursday, due to escalating tensions between the Seleka rebels and the CAR government.
US State Department deputy spokesperson, Patrick Ventrell said in a statement,
“This decision is solely due to concerns about the security of our personnel and has no relation to our continuing and long-standing diplomatic relations with the CAR.”
The State Department in a separate notice has warned U.S. citizens from travelling to Central African Republic, due to its inability to “provide protection or routine consular services to U.S. citizens.”
According to The Washington Times, President Obama has deployed 50 combat troops to Chad as a “stand by evacuation force”.
Meanwhile, France has deployed 250 soldiers to its embassy in CAR who were originally stationed at the airport in Bangui.
