A Kenyan peacekeeper has been killed in the Central Africa Republic.

The peacekeeper was killed on Friday by unknown assailants following an ambush by an armed group in Haut-Mbomou. 

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) in a statement confirmed the death saying the attack targeted a UN convoy on patrol near the village of Tabane, 24 km northwest of Zemio.

While condemining the attack, Valentine Rugwabiza, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the Central African Republic and Head of MINUSCA expressed her dismay saying a rapid intervention team has since been deployed to the site to secure the area.

“A Kenyan peacekeeper was killed in this extremely violent attack perpetrated by unidentified armed elements. I am extremely shocked by this heinous attack on peacekeepers whose mission is to protect civilians,” Rugwabiza said.

While calling on the Central African authorities to take swift action in identifying and prosecuting those responsible, Rugwabiza said that such attacks on UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. 

“Such cowardly attacks against the Mission’s peacekeepers will not diminish MINUSCA’s determination to carry out its mandate in the service of peace and stability in the Central African Republic,” she affirmed.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper and to the Kenyan government.

“Attacks targeting United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. The Central African authorities should spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this tragedy so that they can be brought to justice swiftly,” Guterres said in a statement. 

The Central African Republic has been embroiled in conflict since 2012, with sectarian violence between predominantly Muslim militia groups and Christian anti-Balaka forces causing thousands of deaths and widespread humanitarian needs. 

Armed groups seized the capital in 2013, forcing then-President François Bozizé to flee. While elections in 2016 briefly reduced violence, conflict escalated again, prompting peace talks in 2019 under the African Union’s leadership with UN support. 

A peace agreement was reached and formally signed in Bangui.

The UN Security Council issued a statement on Sunday condemning the attack, emphasizing that such acts against peacekeepers could amount to war crimes. 

The Council urged the CAR Government to conduct a thorough investigation with MINUSCA’s support, ensure accountability, and update the relevant troop-contributing country. 

They cited Security Council resolutions 2518 (2020) and 2589 (2021) as frameworks for ensuring justice.

Ambassadors also expressed concern over illicit transnational trafficking networks that continue to fund and supply armed groups in CAR. 

“The members of the Security Council stressed the need to further investigate and combat this threat,” the statement read.