UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned on Sunday a deadly attack on peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR), calling for swift justice and extending condolences to the victims’ families.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Guterres expressed his “deepest condolences” to the families of the fallen, as well as to the Government and people of Zambia. He also wished a speedy recovery to the injured soldier.
The attack is the third deadly assault on UN peacekeepers in CAR this year. In March, a Kenyan peacekeeper was killed in the Haut-Mbomou region, while in February, a Tunisian peacekeeper died in the north of the country. Earlier this week, two Nepalese peacekeepers were injured in another assault in the southwest.
Guterres highlighted that such attacks may amount to war crimes under international law and urged CAR authorities “to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators so they can be brought to justice swiftly.”
Valentine Rugwabiza, head of the UN peacekeeping mission in CAR (MINUSCA), also denounced the rise in violence against peacekeepers and echoed the call for firm legal action.
MINUSCA has faced mounting challenges since its deployment in 2014. The 17,000-strong force was established to help stabilize the conflict-ridden country. According to the UN, more than 150 peacekeepers have been killed during the mission.
A recent UNHCR report warned that worsening insecurity, especially near the border with Sudan, has forced MINUSCA to step up patrols in violence-hit areas, amid rising displacement caused by ongoing fighting in neighboring Sudan.