European Union member states have agreed to begin a joint military operation in the Central African Republic (CAR).


The plan was agreed by ambassadors from 28 EU countries in their meeting in Brussels on Friday.

They gave their consent to the plan for stationing hundreds of troops in the war-torn country to help African and French forces already there.

"There is an agreement in principle for military action," said one of the EU diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"There will be further talks next week," another diplomat said.

A meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on January 20 will decide on the details of the plan.

The Central African Republic spiraled into chaos in March last year when Seleka fighters overthrew President Francois Bozizé and brought Michel Djotodia to power. Bozizé fled the country after his ouster.

On September 13, 2013, Djotodia dissolved the Seleka coalition. Some of the rebels later joined the country’s regular army while some defied.

Meanwhile, both President Djotodia and Prime Minister Nicolas Tiengaye resigned on Friday at a meeting in neighboring Chad aimed at ending the violence in their country.

They resigned after intense pressure over the government's failure to stem the deadly violence.

France invaded its former colony on December 5, 2013, after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution giving the African Union and France the go-ahead to send troops to the country.

France has deployed 1,600 troops in the country, but the UN-backed intervention force, which includes about 4,000 African Union peacekeepers, is struggling to restore security in the African Republic.

Paris claims the aim of the mission is to create stability in the country in order to allow humanitarian aid to reach violence-hit areas.

There are many mineral resources, including gold and diamond, in the Central African Republic. However, the country is extremely poor and has faced a series of rebellions and coups since it gained independence in 1960.