A Zambian peacekeeper serving with the United Nations mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) was killed on Friday following an ambush near the country’s northern border with Sudan. The attackers are believed to be members of armed groups from Sudan, according to the UN. Another peacekeeper was wounded and is receiving medical care.
The UN Security Council voiced grave concern over the mounting assaults on peacekeepers in the region, with this marking the third attack on UN forces in the country since the beginning of the year. Zambia’s foreign minister has called for the perpetrators to be swiftly held accountable.
The Central African Republic has faced persistent conflict since 2013, when a rebel alliance overthrew then-president François Bozizé. Although a 2019 peace deal offered hope, nearly half of the signatory armed groups have since backed out. The crisis is further complicated by the presence of Russian-backed security forces, who have been accused of worsening tensions and committing human rights violations.
