South Africa has sent about 200 soldiers to the embattled Central African Republic (CAR), the South African Defence Ministry said Sunday.
"Since the prevailing security situation in the Central African Republic, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has sent a support and protection team," the Department of Defence said in a statement.
The Seleka rebel coalition has been advancing on the capital, Bangui, since launching an offensive in December, prompting France, the United States and the Economic Community of Central African
States to deploy troops in the country.
On Saturday the rebels captured Alindao, 500 kilometres east of Bangui, having faced no resistance. They cut off all telephone lines.
The rebels accuse President Francois Bozize of breaching a past peace deal and want him to step down.
A Defence Ministry spokesperson said South Africa sent about 200 soldiers.
They are mandated "to protect the SANDF contingent that has been in the CAR for training and capacity building purposes," said the statement.
The United Nations estimate that about 316,000 people - 7 per cent of the total CAR population of over 4.6 million - live in the conflict-affected areas, and some 700,000 persons in Bangui are at
risk should there be an escalation in fighting.