The UN Spokesman’s Office reported that an unidentified individual killed a peacekeeper on Friday during a long-range patrol near the village of Tabane, in the southeast region of the Central African Republic. According to a statement from Secretary-General António Guterres, he expressed his condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper and to the government and people of Kenya.

Guterres also highlighted that attacks targeting UN peacekeepers may be considered war crimes under international law. He urged the Central African authorities to make a concerted effort to identify the perpetrators of this tragic event and bring them to justice swiftly.

The Central African Republic has been experiencing internal conflict along sectarian lines since 2012. Predominantly Muslim and Christian militias have been battling each other, resulting in numerous deaths and a reliance on aid for the affected population. In 2013, armed groups seized the capital, forcing the previous president to flee.

In 2019, peace talks began under the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in CAR, led by the African Union with UN support. A deal was agreed upon in Khartoum and formally signed in CAR’s capital, Bangui.

Valentine Rubwabiza, the head of MINUSCA, denounced the attack as a “heinous act” and stated that a rapid intervention team has been dispatched to secure the area. She emphasized the need for authorities in CAR to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice swiftly. Despite such attacks, Rubwabiza affirmed that peacekeepers remain resolute in their mission to protect civilians and maintain peace and stability in the region.

Source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2025/03/1161706