Cameroonian UN peacekeeper killed in CAR

A Cameroon UN peacekeeper was killed in Central African Republic during clashes between the Christian anti-Balaka and the Muslim Seleka militia late Tuesday, according to a UN press release.

The UN peacekeeper was killed after violence erupted between anti-Balaka and Seleka militias in Batangafo, 400 kilometers north of Bangui near a checkpoint of MINUSCA — UN mission in CAR — according to the statement.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned all attacks against UN peacekeeping forces, and “reiterates his call for all armed groups to immediately lay down their weapons and refrain from violence,” the statement said.

“The UN chief reiterated that MINUSCA will take all necessary measures in line with its mandate to protect civilians and foster stability. Mr. Ban also offered his sincere condolences to the family of the victim and to the Government of Cameroon,” it added.

Violence erupted in the Central African state in 2013, when Muslim Seleka rebels ousted then President Francois Bozize, a Christian who had come to power in a 2003 coup. The rebels then installed Michel Djotodia, a Muslim, as the interim president.

Djotodia stepped down in early 2014 to be replaced by current President Catherine Samba-Panza — a Christian — amid a wave of sectarian violence between the two communities. Presidential election was slated for October 2015 in the war torn Central African state, but it has been delayed due to the transitional government’s inability to safeguard the polls.

However, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the head of the UN mission CAR told Anadolu Agency that elections will be held at the end of 2015 or early 2016.

Since 2013 thousands of people have been killed in the conflict and thousands have fled their homes to seek refuge in neighboring countries including Cameroon and Chad.

Amnesty International in one of its recent reports estimated that more than 5,000 people, majority of whom were civilians, died in sectarian violence in the Central African Republic despite the presence of international forces.