Gunmen ambushed peacekeeping troops in the crisis-torn Central African Republic, injuring two, residents and a spokesman for the French army force in the country said Friday.
A hospital employee said that French troops and Congolese soldiers from African Union peacekeeping force MISCA were “ambushed” outside the hospital in the central mining town of Bria while making their way back to their airport base on Thursday night.
Gunfire broke out for around half an hour outside the hospital in the town centre, according to the employee, who asked not to be named.
International peacekeeping troops are in the area in a bid to stop months of violence between the country’s Christian majority and Muslim minority.
The crisis began when a mostly Muslim rebel group called Seleka seized power a year ago and some of its members went rogue, attacking the civilian population and sparking revenge attacks by Christian vigilante groups.
Both sides have been accused of brutal violence against civilians, and about a quarter of the country’s 4.6 million people have fled their homes.
Sebastien Isern, a communications officer for the French force in the capital Bangui, confirmed Thursday’s incident.
NMG
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