Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/two-french-soldiers-killed-in-central-african-republic Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Two French soldiers killed in Central African Republic Nation Dec 10, 2013 1:00 PM EDT A mob of young men tore down the walls of a mosque and set fire to cars outside as violence escalates in the Central African Republic capital of Bangui. Video by Associated Press France suffered its first casualties Monday night after launching an military intervention last week that deployed 1,600 soldiers to disarm fighters in the Central African Republic. Two French soldiers were killed in an overnight firefight in the nation’s capital, Bangui, where rival militia forces are responsible for the violence that has left at least 465 people dead since Thursday, Reuters reports. Angry mobs carry out revenge attacks in Central African Republic http://t.co/SiYgOXczxd by @jeromedelay @AP #car pic.twitter.com/my6sQoxbtx — NBC News Pictures (@NBCNewsPictures) December 9, 2013 “They lost their lives to save many others,” French President Francois Hollande said in a statement. The French president is expected to stop in Bangui on Tuesday after attending a memorial service for the late Nelson Mandela. France’s Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that the losses would not curtail the efforts of the 1,600-strong operation to support the 2,500-strong African regional force, the AFP reports. “I think that with those numbers we will be able to restore peace and security across the country,” he said. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now
A mob of young men tore down the walls of a mosque and set fire to cars outside as violence escalates in the Central African Republic capital of Bangui. Video by Associated Press France suffered its first casualties Monday night after launching an military intervention last week that deployed 1,600 soldiers to disarm fighters in the Central African Republic. Two French soldiers were killed in an overnight firefight in the nation’s capital, Bangui, where rival militia forces are responsible for the violence that has left at least 465 people dead since Thursday, Reuters reports. Angry mobs carry out revenge attacks in Central African Republic http://t.co/SiYgOXczxd by @jeromedelay @AP #car pic.twitter.com/my6sQoxbtx — NBC News Pictures (@NBCNewsPictures) December 9, 2013 “They lost their lives to save many others,” French President Francois Hollande said in a statement. The French president is expected to stop in Bangui on Tuesday after attending a memorial service for the late Nelson Mandela. France’s Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that the losses would not curtail the efforts of the 1,600-strong operation to support the 2,500-strong African regional force, the AFP reports. “I think that with those numbers we will be able to restore peace and security across the country,” he said. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now