The United States says it has temporarily evacuated its embassy in the Central African Republic and halted its consular service over security concerns.

The US Department of State said in a statement on Thursday, “As a result of the deteriorating security situation, the US Embassy in Bangui suspended its operations on December 28, 2012.”

The statement further said that Washington had not cut off diplomatic relations with the African country but warned US citizens against travelling to the Central African Republic.

“This decision is solely due to concerns about the security of our personnel and has no relation to our continuing and long-standing diplomatic relations with the CAR.”

The United Nations is already evacuating its non-essential staff from the African country.

Over the past few weeks, Seleka rebels have seized large areas of Central African Republic’s territory.

On December 23, the rebels took control of the south-central city of Bambari, located on the Ouaka River, during operations against government forces.

On December 19, Chadian troops entered the Central African Republic after the CAR government asked Chad to help repel the rebel offensive, which began on December 10.

Furious demonstrators gathered near the French embassy in the capital, Bangui, on Wednesday, to protest against the ‘inaction’ of France over the issue of rebels. The protesters hurled projectiles and tore down French flags in front of the embassy.

Reports say angry protestors also held a sit-in in front of the US embassy in Bangui on the same day.

Meanwhile, President of the Central African Republic Francois Bozize on Thursday asked Paris and Washington to help the country “to push back the rebels.”


French President Francois Hollande said France would not intervene in the internal affairs of its former colony.

Since the end of colonization in the 1960s, French troops have been stationed in western Africa, where rebels fight against the governments in the region.

The Central African Republic, with a population of less than five million, has experienced frequent coups and mutinies.

The rebels have threatened to overthrow President Francois Bozize, who seized power in a coup in 2003. They accuse Bozize of breaching the terms of peace deals reached with various rebel factions between 2007 and 2011.