UN Chief Strongly Condemns Deadly Attacks On Civilians In CAR - Spokesman

UN Chief Strongly Condemns Deadly Attacks on Civilians in CAR - Spokesman

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns deadly attacks by the 3R armed group on villages in western Central African Republic (CAR), which killed over 30 civilians, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Friday

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th May, 2019) United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns deadly attacks by the 3R armed group on villages in western Central African Republic (CAR), which killed over 30 civilians, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Friday.

At least 34 people were killed on Tuesday after 3R militants attacked a number of villages in the country's Pahoua region. The Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation, or 3R, rebel group is a signatory party to the peace agreement signed between the car government and armed groups in February.

"The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attacks against villages in western Central African Republic, which has left at least 34 people dead," Dujarric said.

Guterres called on all parties to the peace agreement to respect international humanitarian law and immediately halt violence, as well as urged the CAR authorities to launch an investigation into the attacks and hold perpetrators accountable for the crime, Dujarric added.

The spokesman noted that a joint mission, comprised of UN peacekeepers, CAR government, the African Union, and the Economic Community of Central African States representatives, will be deployed on Saturday to the areas affected by violence to de-escalate tensions and assist victims.

The CAR government and 14 armed groups struck a peace accord on February 6 in the Sudanese city of Khartoum, followed by a deal on a new cabinet makeup published in March, which drew criticism over not being inclusive enough.

The CAR has been suffering from a drawn-out conflict since a coup in 2013. Much of the fighting in recent years has been between Muslim-majority Seleka and Christian Anti-Balaka militias.