African Leaders Agree To Create An Emergency Military Force

A pan-continental force is to be set up to tackle rebellions and coups d'etat in Africa. Picture: UN/Reuters

African Leaders Create Emergency Military Force -- Reuters

(Reuters) - African leaders said on Monday they would immediately create a military rapid reaction force to deal with regional coups, rebellions and wars, seeking to reduce the continent's reliance on foreign troops and funds for its defense.

African Union (AU) Chairman and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced the creation of the so-called African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises, and said South African President Jacob Zuma had proposed the force.

Besides South Africa, which in March had more than a dozen soldiers killed in Central African Republic by coup rebels, Uganda and Ethiopia have also pledged to contribute to the new contingent, officials said at an AU summit in Addis Ababa.

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