According to government officials thousands of C.A.R refugees fleeing
the conflict in their country have crossed the border into the DRC.

Lambert Mende says the government in Kinshasa is working with member
states of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to
help the C.A.R stabilize the security situation there.

“We are more concerned about that conflict because we share 1600
kilometers of border with Central African Republic so, whatever can
happen there can impact our security,” said Mende. “That is why we are
very eager to bring in our contribution in trying to stabilize the
situation over there,” he said.

The DRC has sent a battalion of soldiers and a unit of plainclothes
policemen to the C.A.R, according to Mende. He praised the efforts of
the government troops in the C.A.R since many of the soldiers speak
similar languages like those affected by the conflict.

“Our troops are many times called to separate these rival factions that
are fighting, and they are also working with the population to assist
them. Because we share cultures, we share language, so it is very easy
for us to try to help when it comes the time of negotiating between
groups,” said Mende.

His comments came after Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for
Refugees warned Wednesday that the C.A.R conflict could destabilize the
region and threaten global security.

Mende says the government in Kinshasa is working with international
relief agencies to provide assistance to refugees who crossed the border
into the country following the violence.

“We have no other way of dealing [with them] but accommodating them in
conformity with international laws,” said Mende. “We are working closely
with UN High Commission for Refugees to help those guys and take them
away from the border [and] that is what we are doing.”

Mende says his administration supports calls for the international
community to expedite an intervention bid to help end the security
crisis in the C.A.R.

“That is a position that is shared by all African Union [member] states.
Of course we are [a] member of the AU. So, we need really that this
force that has been set by the Security Council, be operational as soon
as possible, and bring in more elements to help stabilize the
situation,” said Mende.

The Security Council recently approved sending troops to the C.A.R
following violence there that forced thousands of refugees to flee their
homes into neighboring countries.

The C.A.R was plunged into security crisis after Michel Djotodia led the
Seleka armed group to topple former President Francois Bozize in March
last year.