Finland’s contribution to the effort to stabilize the Central African Republic has on Wednesday been rubber-stamped by the president and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy.
A maximum of 30 Finnish soldiers will travel to the CAR, a smaller contingent than Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja had originally envisaged.
The goal of the EUFOR operation is to protect civilians in the country, which has been the scene of communal violence since December last year. Amnesty International has said some parties in the conflict between Muslim and Christian militias are engaged in 'ethnic cleansing'.
Around a million people have been forced to flee their homes, and 250,000 have gone to neighbouring countries to avoid the fighting. The EU estimates that around half the population is in need of immediate humanitarian aid.