Guterres Denounces Deadly Attack on UN Peacekeepers in Central African Republic

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly denounced an attack on a UN peacekeeping patrol in the northeast Central African Republic (CAR) on Monday which left one Rwandan soldier dead. 

In a statement, the UN chief noted that attacks targeting peacekeepers “may constitute war crimes under international law. He calls on the Central African Republic authorities to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this attack and bring them to justice swiftly.”

He also reaffirmed the solidarity of the UN with the people and Government of CAR.

The attack by unknown assailants on the patrol from the MINUSCA mission occurred just a few kilometers from the town of Sam Ouandia, the UN reported.

In response, the mission has immediately opened an investigation into the exact circumstances, said a statement issued by the UN Spokesperson for António Guterres on Tuesday.

In 2014, MINUSCA was deployed to help end intercommunal violence that erupted a year earlier when mainly Muslim militants ousted the then-president, prompting reprisals from mostly Christian militias.