UN peacekeeper killed in Central African Republic

By Felix Nkambeh Tih

ANKARA (AA) - The United Nations in Central African Republic on Tuesday condemned an attack on its convoy that killed a Cambodian peacekeeper in the country’s southeastern region, a statement said.

According to the statement, militiamen attacked a convoy of UN peacekeepers on Monday night near Bangassou village, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from its destination in Yogofongo village.

“One Cambodian peacekeeper was killed and eight peacekeepers were injured, including one Cambodian and seven Moroccan.

“Four peacekeepers are missing in action, among them three Cambodian soldiers and 1 Moroccan soldier. The perpetrators of the attack fled into the bush,” it read.

It further stated United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) sent a helicopter and peacekeepers to secure the site and search for those missing in action.

Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the special representative of the secretary-general and head of MINUSCA, extended his condolences to the family of the victim, his contingent and his country.

He expresses his “immense gratitude for the work and sacrifices of the peacekeepers in protecting the population in the Central African Republic,” the statement said.

In January, two Moroccan peacekeepers were killed in the war-torn Central African state in similar circumstances.

Since 2013, thousands of people have been killed due to violence between pro-Christian and pro-Muslim militiamen. Thousands others have fled their homes to seek refuge in neighboring countries – including Cameroon and Chad.

Almost half the population of the Central African state depends on humanitarian assistance, according to the UN Office of Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).