One of the soldiers was seriously injured and had to be evacuated to Bouar for treatment, then to the capital, Bangui, MINUSCA informed.

The “peacekeepers” were in the village of Batouri Bole, in Mambéré-Kadéï, in the south-west of the country, when the incident occurred.

It took place at around 11:00 a.m. local time as their convoy left the town of Berbérati for the Force’s temporary military outposts in Gbambia and Amada-Gaza, located about 100 kilometers northeast of Berbérati.

Fulfill the mandate

MINUSCA has strongly condemned the use of explosive devices by armed groups in disputed areas of CAR, which have already left dozens of civilians dead and injured.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MINUSCA, Mankeur Ndiaye, wished a speedy recovery to the wounded peacekeepers.

“Despite the difficult conditions facing our peacekeepers on the ground, made worse by the appearance of improvised explosive devices, MINUSCA remains resolutely committed to fulfilling its mandate for peace and stability,” he said.

Series of attacks

This is the third time that MINUSCA peacekeepers have been victims of explosive devices exploding under UN vehicles.

Last November, a dishonest attack by elements of the presidential guard on a mission vehicle left ten unarmed Egyptian peacekeepers injured in Bangui.

At the time, UN Secretary General António Guterres urged the authorities to spare no effort to investigate “the unacceptable attack”.

More than 14,000 uniformed personnel serve in MINUSCA, which has been in the country since 2014, following the eruption the previous year of deadly inter-communal violence between predominantly Christian and predominantly Muslim militias, which destabilized the CAR.

The government declared a unilateral ceasefire in October, and although much of the country remains in the grip of armed groups, positive steps have been taken this year to strengthen democracy and the rule of law. .