On July 11, a United Nations peacekeeper from Rwanda was killed in an attack on their patrol in northeast Central African Republic (CAR). The incident occurred 3 km (1.86 miles) from the town of Sam-Ouandja, and three of the assailants were killed in the ensuing exchange with the peacekeepers.

The U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix condemned the “despicable attack” on Twitter. The deployment of U.N. peacekeepers to CAR began in 2014 to help quell the violence that had broken out the year before. This violence was a direct result of the ousting of President Francois Bozize by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels, prompting reprisals from mostly Christian militias.

Although no militia was directly blamed for the attack on the peacekeeper, it was likely carried out by armed elements. Since the signing of a peace accord between the government and 14 armed groups in February 2019, the violence in CAR has waned.

Unfortunately, the situation remains volatile as swathes of the country are still outside of government control. CAR remains one of the poorest countries in the world, and the death of the peacekeeper is a sobering reminder of the ongoing conflict in the region.

The U.N. peacekeeping mission is dedicated to protecting civilians and humanitarians in CAR, and the death of the peacekeeper is a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by those on the frontlines. The U.N. will continue to oppose any attacks against civilians and peacekeepers and is committed to helping bring peace and stability to the region.