When Catherine Samba-Panza, the interim leader of the Central African Republic, leaves the EU-Africa summit in Belgium, she won't be going home alone.
She'll be back in her country with an additional 800 soldiers -- all part of the European Union peacekeeping force formally launched Wednesday.
Her country's principal backer, French President Francois Hollande, welcomed the reinforcement of troops.
(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, SAYING:
"And if France is making the main effort through the Sangaris operation, Europe and Germany are also contributing with logistical, material and financial means that allow us to support the Central African Republic in this difficult moment."
Two thousand French troops are already in Central African Republic, alongside some 6,000 African Union forces.
They're trying to stop the bloodshed between the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels and the Christian anti-Balaka militia.
So far the violence has
