Rebels advance in Central African Republic December 27, 2012 -- Updated 0034 GMT (0834 HKT) United Nations is temporarily relocating non-essential staff The U.S. State Department warns against all but essential travel outside the capital French President Hollande orders troops to protect the embassy in Bangui (CNN) -- The United Nations announced Wednesday that it is temporarily relocating dependents and non-essential staff in the Central African Republic because a cease-fire with rebel forces is not holding. "Their contradictory messages and their continued military offensive seem to indicate that they might be intent on taking Bangui," the United Nations said in a statement that referred to the capital city. The move "is a precautionary measure to reduce our presence in the event the security situation further deteriorates in Bangui," the statement said. On Monday, the U.S. Department of State -- citing "increased rebel activity" in the country -- warned U.S. citizens against all but essential travel outside Bangui. On Sunday, the department authorized the departure of non-emergency personnel in Bangui. "U.S. citizens should review their personal security situation and consider taking advantage of commercial flights," the department said in a statement. "Armed militia groups, bandits, and poachers present real dangers, and the Central African government is unable to guarantee the safety of visitors in most parts of the country," it said. There have been repeated attacks on Central African and expatriate travelers in the countryside. Attacks in past months have occurred as close as 70 kilometers from Bangui. Poachers and armed men also pose a threat to game hunters in northern and eastern CAR. The Lord's Resistance Army poses a similar threat to hunters in eastern CAR. The Lord's Resistance Army is led by fugitive warlord Joseph Kony, who is Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court at the Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity, stemming in part from allegations of vicious tactics to conscript children as soldiers and sex slaves in his army. Also Wednesday, French President Francois Hollande ordered his defense minister to deploy soldiers who were already in the country to safeguard the embassy in Bangui after a demonstration there, his office said in a statement.