The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) condemned an attack on its peacekeeping contingent in the country. One Rwandan peacekeeper dead while two others injured, YeniSafak reports.
The UN Secretary-General expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the victim, and to the people and the Rwandan government. The tragedy took place late Monday in the northwestern part of the country, according to the statement issued by the MINUSCA. The attack was perpetrated by the elements of an insurgent group – called Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation (3R).
As the UN mission added, the attack constitutes a violation of the peace agreement by the 3R armed group and its leader Abass Sidiki.
The Secretary-General calls on the Central African Republic authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this attack so that they can be brought to justice swiftly, the UNSG spokesperson said.
Commenting on the CAR tragedy, which took the life of Rwandan UN officer, Mr Guterres reaffirmed that his organization “will continue to support national efforts to advance peace and stability in the Central African Republic, working closely with the country’s international partners.”
UN: the continuing insecurity in CAR should be stopped
Unfortunately, the recent attack by the 3R insurgent group wasn’t the first incident. The terroristic cell was created in 2015 to protect the Fulani community, a minority in the region, against attacks by anti-Balaka militias, one of the two main armed groups in the country.
In mid-June, UN peace chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix warned of continuing insecurity in CAR. In his address at the UN Security Council, Lacroix emphasized that the violations of the peace agreement made its implementation difficult or even impossible.
In February 2019, the CAR’s government signed an agreement with several armed groups that control large swathes of the country, committing to integrating some groups’ fighters into new army units and their leaders into government. The peace agreement has galvanized international support, but violence continues in the provinces, the experts say.
