BANGUI, Central African Republic: A new UN mission on Monday officially takes charge of peacekeeping operations in the Central African Republic, tasked with ending ethnic and religious bloodshed and helping to bring political stability.

During a ceremony due to start at the airport of the capital Bangui at 3:00 p.m. (1400 GMT), the task force known as MINUSCA will pick up the baton from the African MISCA force, backed by French and European troops.

“This transfer of authority represents the complete success of the MISCA mandate and the beginning of military and police action” in the poor, landlocked nation, according to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who urged rival sides “to stop the violence immediately” and enable a political transition to stable, democratic rule.

“Our mission can be summed up in a triptych: to protect the population, back the political process and contribute to the restoration of the authority of the state,” said MINUSCA’s chief, General Babacar Gaye of Senegal.

The country plunged into conflict after a coup in March last year by a mainly Muslim rebel alliance, the Seleka, which overthrew president Francois Bozize and made their own man, Michel Djotodia, head of state.

Foreign leaders last January forced Djotodia to step down because he proved incapable of preventing widespread atrocities by renegades from the Seleka.