French politicians will vote later on Tuesday whether to extend the country's mission to the Central African Republic beyond April.

Troops were sent to the CAR to support the African Union peacekeeping force and to protect civilians.

And earlier this month, more troops for the CAR were announced, boosting France's contingent to around 2,000.

But France's military is already stretched, with troops still in Mali after the intervention last year.

More than 2,000 people have been killed in violence in the CAR since December.

Al Jazeera's Emma Hayward reports from Paris.