The UN security council unanimously decided yesterday to send 12,000 peacekeepers to the Central African Republic.

The 10,000 troops and 1,800 police will take over from 5,000 African Union soldiers from September 15, while a separate 2,000-strong French force has been authorised to use “all necessary means” to support the UN intervention.

Former colonial power France was the driving force behind the resolution.

The Central African Republic has been caught in a brutal conflict between rival militias since mostly Islamist rebels grabbed power in a March 2013 coup, establishing a violent regime.

Christian militias fought back even more violently, causing the rebel government to crumble in January. The country has been left with a power vacuum since.

The unanimously agreed resolution expresses serious concern at human rights violations by both sides, including killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture, sexual violence against women and children, rape and attacks on civilians.

It demands that “all militias and armed groups put aside their arms, cease all forms of violence and destabilising activities immediately and release children from their ranks.”

The resolution authorises the new UN force to protect civilians and support the disarmament of combatants and the restoration of peace and law and order.

It also authorises peacekeepers to help investigate violations of human rights and humanitarian law by armed groups including former Seleka elements and anti-Balaka militia.

The military operation won’t begin until September but UN mission Minusca has been established immediately.