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U.S. Air Force Supports Efforts To End The Violence In The Central African Republic | Photos

In response to requests from the African Union and the French government for help in ending the ongoing violence in the Central African Republic, the U.S. Air Force has begun to provide airlift support. Two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft have been staged at Entebbe, Uganda. In recent days, those two C-17s have been called upon to transport a Rwandan mechanized battalion to the Central African Republic. “The African Union has decided to stand up a mission in the Central African Republic to decrease the violence that has been occurring over the last several months,” said Lt. Col. Allen Pepper, senior officer in the Central African Republic, U.S. Army Africa. “A part of that is getting enough troops on the ground to execute that mission,” added Pepper. U.S. military personnel participating in the airlift understand the importance of the mission. “What the Rwandans are doing in Central Africa is very important, they are preventing mass atrocities and helping to stabilize the Central African Republic,” said Lt. Col. David Hernandez, Mission Coordination Cell Rwanda officer in charge. “For this reason, the support we are providing to them is important,” continued Hernandez. Uganda was also used as the base of operations to fly military forces from Burundi to the Central African Republic in December, 2013.

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Steven Hoarn is the Editor/Photo Editor for Defense Media Network. He is a graduate of...