Egyptian UN peacekeeper killed in Central African Republic

CAIRO – 27 November 2017: An Egyptian UN peacekeeper was reportedly murdered by the Anti-balaka militants in Gambo, Bangassou, Central African Republic on Sunday.

According to a statement released by the United Nations, the Anti-balaka militants killed one Egyptian soldier and injured three others during an armed raid.

More than one hundred civilians and three Moroccan soldiers affiliated with UN peacekeeping forces were reportedly killed by the Anti-balaka militants in Central Africa between May and July 2017.

After the rise of Séléka rebel armed group in 2012, Central Africa has witnessed a kind of civil war that erupted between Séléka, a Muslim majority group, and the Anti-balaka, a Christian majority group.

This civil war led to the killing and fleeing of hundreds of civilians; the war continues in Central Africa amid international condemnations and attempts by the current government and the UN peacekeeping forces to control it.

In November 2013, the UN warned that the country was at risk of "descending into complete chaos." France also said that the country was "on the verge of genocide.”

According to the United Nations peacekeeping official website, the number of forces in Central Africa hits 13,751, including civilians, experts, troops, police, volunteers, and staff officer. About 13 UN peacekeepers were reported to be killed during 2017, according to Reuters.