The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, strongly condemned a recent attack against the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), which resulted in the death of a Zambian peacekeeper and injured another. This hostile act, Guterres noted, raises concerns over the growing risks faced by UN peacekeepers in the region.
In an official statement, Guterres urged the Central African authorities to undertake thorough investigations to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. The attack targeted personnel from the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and was carried out by unidentified armed groups. Guterres highlighted that such violence could potentially be classified as a war crime in accordance with Article 8 of the Rome Statute.
Valentine Rugwabiza, the head of MINUSCA, echoed Guterres’s condemnation, emphasizing the disturbing increase in attacks on peacekeepers in the CAR. She noted that this incident marks the third deadly assault on MINUSCA patrols in 2025 alone. Recently, similar attacks have occurred, including an assault on two Nepalese peacekeepers and the killing of a Kenyan blue helmet earlier in the year.
The stability of the Central African Republic continues to be a matter of international concern, with recent violence affecting both local communities and Sudanese refugees. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has exacerbated the situation, leading to an influx of refugees into the CAR. International rights groups have pointed out the pressing need for justice and have welcomed recent convictions for war crimes.
The nation is set to conduct elections in 2025, which Rugwabiza views as an opportunity to address the fundamental causes of recurrent conflict. However, despite ongoing efforts by MINUSCA and other stakeholders, significant security concerns remain.
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