Central African Republic on brink of collapse, say UN officials

The Central African Republic is on the brink of collapse and the crisis is threatening to spread beyond its borders, senior UN officials said as they urged the Security Council to help fund and support an African Union peacekeeping force.

The landlocked former French colony - one of the poorest places on earth - has been plunged into chaos since Seleka rebels seized power from president Francois Bozize four months ago, triggering a humanitarian crisis in the heart of Africa. Seleka leader Michel Djotodia has been president since the ousting of Bozize.

The African Union this month rolled an existing 1,100-strong regional peacekeeping mission, known as Micopax, into a new, larger AU peacekeeping force.

The number of troops will be more than tripled to 3,600 and the force has an African Union mandate to protect civilians, help stabilise the country and restore government.

"The African Union has requested financial, logistical and technical support. We have recommended to the council to provide this support. We have also recommended to better adapt the UN [political] mission to the current situation," said the UN envoy to the Central African Republic, retired lieutenant general Babacar Gaye.

The African Union and United Nations plan to send experts to the country shortly to assess exactly what is needed and UN diplomats said that on the basis of those reports the Security Council would respond with a resolution.