UN Secretary-General’s spokesman says three Burundian peacekeepers have been killed and two others injured in the Central African Republic in Friday’s attacks by armed fighters.
BANGUI, Central African Republic – Three peacekeepers from Burundi were killed and two others were injured in the Central African Republic in Friday’s attacks by armed fighters, a spokesman for the United Nations secretary-general said.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the attacks in Dekoua, Kemo Prefecture and Bakuma ahead of Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections, according to a statement by spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Attacks on peacekeepers can be a war crime, the statement said, urging Central African Republic authorities to investigate “atrocious attacks and bring perpetrators to justice quickly”.
The UN resumed the town of Bambari earlier this week from rebels who captured it on Tuesday.
The government blames the unrest on former President Francois Bozize, who returned from exile a year ago and was blocked from running in the elections. He was accused of joining armed groups in an attempt to stage attacks and a coup. He denied it.
Rwanda, which has peacekeeping forces in the country, and Russia have sent hundreds of troops to support the government as the rebels advance on the capital Bangui.
The government and international bodies are calling for peace following a February 2019 agreement between the government and 14 rebel groups.