A United Nations peacekeeping patrol came under fire in the Central African Republic on Monday, resulting in the death of a Rwandan peacekeeper. The attack, launched by an unknown armed group near the town of Sam-Ouandja in the Haute Kotto prefecture, was met with return fire from the peacekeepers, reportedly killing three of the assailants. The U.N. patrol was in the area to provide security and support aid efforts following a previous attack on the town by a separate armed group. U.N. mission head Valentine Rugwabiza condemned the attack and affirmed the peacekeepers' commitment to remaining in Sam-Ouandja, while also coordinating with authorities to deploy national forces to the region. The U.N. had increased security around the town in recent days to protect residents and facilitate aid delivery.
The Central African Republic, a nation rich in minerals but plagued by poverty, has experienced persistent intercommunal conflict since 2013. This conflict began when the predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized control, ousting President Francois Bozize. Mostly Christian militias subsequently retaliated, leading to widespread violence and displacement. The U.N. peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, was established in 2014 and currently has nearly 17,500 personnel on the ground. Its mandate was recently renewed for another year. President Faustin-Archange Touadera, who secured a second term in 2020, continues to face resistance from a rebel coalition associated with Bozize. The Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organization, has played a role in supporting Touadera's government. Following a recent mutiny within the Wagner Group in Russia, Russian officials confirmed that hundreds of their fighters would remain in the Central African Republic.
