UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Monday condemned "in the strongest terms" an attack on UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR) that killed an Egyptian blue helmet.
Sunday's attack on a convoy of the UN mission in the CAR, or MINUSCA, near Gambo in the prefecture of Mbomou by suspected anti-Balaka militants also led to the injury of three other UN peacekeepers. Five suspected anti-Balaka attackers were killed.
The Security Council members expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of the peacekeeper killed, and their deepest sympathy to the family of the peacekeepers injured, as well as to Egypt, and to the MINUSCA, said the council in a press statement.
The members of the council condemned in the strongest terms all attacks, provocations and incitement to violence against the MINUSCA by armed groups and other perpetrators, said the statement.
They reiterated that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes and reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law. They called on the CAR government to swiftly investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support for the MINUSCA and expressed their deep appreciation to MINUSCA's troop- and police-contributing countries.
They reiterated their strong support for the special representative of the UN secretary-general for the CAR, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, and for the MMINUSCA to assist the CAR authorities and the people of the CAR in their efforts to bring lasting peace and stability.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack on Sunday.
The CAR has been in civil war since 2012, which is being fought along religious and ethnic lines, primarily between Christian anti-Balaka militia and Muslim Seleka groups.
With Sunday's attack, hostile acts have claimed the lives of 13 peacekeepers in the CAR this year.
