Security Council condemns attack against UN peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic

The Security Council today strongly condemned the attack against a checkpoint of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which followed an outbreak of violence in a camp for internally displace people in the town of Batangafo, during which one peacekeeper from Cameroon was killed.

In a press statement, Council members expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of the peacekeeper killed and to the Government of Cameroon, as well as to the Transitional Authorities, the people of the Central African Republic, and to MINUSCA.

“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms all attacks and provocations against MINUSCA by armed groups,” the statement noted. “They underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute a war crime and reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law.”

They also called on the Central African Republic authorities to swiftly investigate the attack, with the assistance of MINUSCA, and bring the perpetrators to justice, stressing that those responsible for the attack shall be held accountable.

Meanwhile, the 15-member Council reiterated its full support for MINUSCA to assist the Transitional Authorities, which bear the primary responsibility to protect the population in their efforts to bring lasting peace and stability to their country.

MINUSCA, which was set up in April 2014 to help bring peace after a breakdown of governmental authority and vicious intercommunal fighting between mainly the Muslim Séléka group and the mainly Christian anti-Balaka movement, currently maintains nearly 11,000 uniformed personnel in the country.