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Secretary-General condemns killing of UN peacekeeper in Central African Republic

A MINUSCA patrol in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR).
MINUSCA
A MINUSCA patrol in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR).

Secretary-General condemns killing of UN peacekeeper in Central African Republic

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the recent killing in Bangui of a peacekeeper serving with the UN operation in the Central African Republic (CAR), his spokesman said today.

“The Secretary-General reiterates that attacks against those who are working towards peace and security in the Central African Republic are unacceptable,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “He calls on the Government to ensure that the circumstances of the crime are fully investigated and that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

The peacekeeper from Senegal was shot dead in the CAR’s capital on 24 June by unidentified armed men in circumstances that are still unclear.

The Secretary-General’s condemnation followed an earlier statement from the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), in which it said that the peacekeeper’s body had been found in Bangui’s General Hospital and that it would make every effort to bring those responsible to justice.

According to Mr. Ban’s spokesman, in expressing concern about recent security trends in Bangui and other parts of the country, the UN chief also called on President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, the Government and all relevant actors to continue pursuing a comprehensive process to achieve the disarmament of the armed groups in a spirit of national reconciliation and inclusiveness.