PARIS
France will withdraw 500 of its soldiers deployed in the war-torn Central African Republic as the United Nations deploys its own forces, France's Defense Minister has announced.
Jean-Yves Le Drian told French TV station BFMT on Friday that the number of French soldiers will be reduced from 2,000 to 1,500.
France sent troops to the CAR in early December 2013 to restore order as the mineral-rich country was plagued by sectarian violence between Christian anti-Balaka militiamen and Muslim Seleka fighters.
Christians, who account for the majority of the country's population, accuse Muslims of supporting former Seleka rebels blamed for attacking Christian homes, looting property and carrying out summary executions.
Refuge sought
Since December of last year, about 173,000 people have been internally displaced by sectarian violence, while 37,000 others have fled to neighboring countries, according to UN refugee agency UNHCR.
More than 30,000 have reportedly sought refuge in the nearby Democratic Republic of Congo, while Chad and Cameroon now host roughly 5,600 and 1,000 refugees respectively, according to UNHCR figures.
A 12,000-troop UN mission (MINUSCA), began deploying in the troubled central African country in September under a UN Security Council mandate.
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