Resisting Rebels in chad and the Central African Republic

This chapter explores how, in an effort to address the complex situation of the conflict in Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR), the European Union (EU) deployed EUFOR Chad–CAR. The key objective of the force was to protect civilians living in the refugee camps, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and ensure the safety of humanitarian personnel operating in the conflict area. France initiated and politically orchestrated the deployment of EUFOR Chad–CAR. France worked relentlessly at the UN to pass a UN resolution that would authorize the EU mission and plan for the EU–UN transition. France introduced the issue at the EU Council and lobbied EU member states to support the proposal. Most EU members, however, did not share France's urgency to deploy an EU operation to Chad–CAR. As such, it was up to France to cajole these countries to contribute forces to the coalition. In this process, France instrumentalized diplomatic embeddedness. The chapter then looks at the deployment decisions of the three largest troop-contributing countries: Ireland, Poland, and Sweden; Austria, a deeply embedded state with France; and Russia, a less embedded state with France.