France to End Central African Republic Military Mission in 2016

France will end its military intervention in the Central African Republic this year, the French defense minister said Wednesday.

"I can confirm to you the end of Operation Sangaris during the course of 2016," Jean-Yves Le Drian said in the capital Bangui, attending the swearing-in of new President Faustin-Archange Touadera, elected in a runoff vote on February 14.

Le Drian did not indicate when the troops would be withdrawn this year.

But he said the pullout will be in coordination with the buildup of the 12,000-strong U.N. force MINUSCA, and the European Union's training mission, known as EUTM RCA.

Around 300 French troops will remain in CAR, who will rejoin MINUSCA and take part in EUTM RCA, he said.

The CAR plunged into chaos in March 2013 when mostly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted President Francois Bozize, a Christian, and installed their leader Michel Djotodia in power for 10 months.

A transitional government was brought in under international pressure in early 2014.

France, the former colonial power, launched the mission in December 2013, with around 2,500 troops deployed as part of Operation Sangaris at its peak, supporting around 10,000 U.N. peacekeepers. But this has been reduced to about 900.

International operations in CAR have been dogged by sexual scandals after a slew of accusations of child sexual abuse against French and U.N. troops.