A United Nations peacekeeper died this Monday and five others were injured in the northwest of the Central African Republic (CAR), where several rebel groups operate, when an explosive device exploded during a patrol, the UN peacekeeping mission reported. UN in the country (Minusca).

“The soldier for peace Emmanuel Steve Atebelle lost his life during a mission patrol in the town of Mbindale, about 45 kilometers northwest of Paoua,” Minusca said last night in a statement. The explosive device, the document added, also injured five other peacekeepers, two of them seriously. The incident occurred at 11:30 local time (10:30 GMT), while the patrol was escorting a team from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

“The special representative of the UN Secretary General in the CAR and head of MINUSCA, Valentine Rugwabiza, strongly condemns the use of explosive devices, which constitute one of the most deadly threats to the protection of civilians, the delivery of aid humanitarian and the activities of the populations,” the organization indicated.

La Minusca sent its condolences to the family of the deceased soldier and the Government of Cameroonhis country of origin, and asked the Central African authorities to “spare no efforts” to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

Systemic violence has persisted in CAR since late 2012, when a coalition of rebel groups from the Muslim-majority northeast – the Séléka – took the capital, Bangui, and overthrew President François Bozizé, starting a bloody civil war. Although the current president, Faustin Archange Touadéra, declared a unilateral ceasefire in October 2021 with the aim of facilitating national dialogue, a good part of the country – rich in diamonds, uranium and gold – remains controlled by militias.

According to the UN, the violence has displaced more than half a million people, and 3.4 million – 56% of the Central African population – are in need of humanitarian assistance.