UN opens investigation of peacekeepers’ response in Central Africa Republic

UNITED NATIONS, United States: The United Nations on Monday opened an independent investigation to determine whether UN peacekeepers responded appropriately to an outbreak of recent violence in the Central African Republic.

A team led by retired BrigadierGeneral Fernand Marcel Amoussou of Benin will arrive in the country yesterday and carry out the investigation until Nov 28.

“The investigation will look into attacks against civilians by armed groups that occurred in close proximity to a presence of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) in HauteKotto, Basse-Kotto, Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou prefectures, as well as the mission’s response to these incidents,” said a UN statement.

It will focus on violence that occurred between May and August of this year.

In July, three Moroccan peacekeepers were killed in two separate attacks by suspected anti-Balaka fighters in Bangassou, a predominantly Christian town that has been among the worst hit by violence.

Six UN troops and 66 civilians were killed in a separate attack by the anti-Balaka in May in which Muslim civilians sought refuge in a mosque that was initially protected by MINUSCA but the UN force later withdrew.

The mosque’s imam was shot dead when he tried to leave. — AFP