Three UN peacekeepers have been killed in the Central African Republic (CAR) as tensions flare between government and rebel forces.
The UN said unidentified combatants carried out two attacks on a group of UN Peacekeepers stationed in CAR to quell violence ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday.
The attack left three peacekeepers dead and two others injured.
In a statement on Friday, the UN said the three deceased peacekeepers were from Burundi, and their deaths may constitute a war crime.
The assaults against them took place in Dekoa, central CAR, and in the southern area of Bakouma.
President of Central African Republic, Mr. Faustin Archange Touadéra has accused his predecessor François Bozizé of fomenting a coup with rebel groups but Mr Bozizé, has denied the allegation.
Mr. Bozize was barred from running in the election on December 3rd, the Constitutional Court ruled that Mr. Bozizé did not satisfy the “good morality” requirement for candidates because of an international warrant and UN sanctions against him for alleged assassinations, torture and other crimes during his rule.
Mr. Bozizé, came to power after a coup in 2003 and subsequently won two elections that were widely seen as fraudulent. He was ousted in 2013 by the Séléka – a rebel coalition drawn largely from the Muslim minority – which accused him of breaking peace agreements.
The UN said 55,000 people had fled their homes in CAR as violence escalates, and there has been an increase in attacks on humanitarian groups operating in the country.
Rebel groups have seized several towns close to the capital, Bangui, clashing with government forces and looting property, and the UN said its troops were working to prevent a blockade.
The CAR is one of Africa’s poorest and most unstable countries, even though it is rich in resources like diamonds and uranium.
The UN estimates that half of the population are dependent on humanitarian assistance and up to a fifth have been displaced.
Russia is allied with President Touadéra and this week said it had sent 300 military instructors to CAR, following a request for help from the government.
Russia insists it is not involved in the fighting.
