{{As reported in our previous article, a humanitarian and commercial goods convoy escorted by Rwanda peacekeepers in Central African Republic (CAR) came under attack on the way to the CAR-Cameroon border. }}
The cowardly attack on the humanitarian convoy left three innocent civilians dead who were among the 2000 rescued civilians along the way. Three civilians were also injured and evacuated to Cameroon Hospital.
The convoy of seventy vehicles escorted by Rwanda Mechanized Infantry Battalion (RwaMechBatt1) serving in the African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA) was attacked in a locality called Beloko, near the CAR-Cameroon border, by armed people identified as Anti-Balaka at around 18h30 on Sunday 16 February 2014.
The criminals, in disregard of human life, opened fire on the humanitarian convoy immediately killing three innocent civilians.
The killed civilians were among 2000 fleeing civilians rescued along the way that were under attack from Anti-Baraka.
The peacekeepers, in protecting civilians and the humanitarian convoy fought the assailants in several attacks and killed at least seven of them. Two sub-machine guns and several rounds of ammunition were recovered from them.
“We condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly attack on the humanitarian convoy. We call upon all armed groups in CAR to lay down their arms and stop violence that is killing innocent people”, said Brigadier General Joseph Nzabamwita, the Rwanda Defence Forces Spokesman.
The humanitarian convoy escort, for the third time, had started the 700 km long journey from Bangui to CAR-Cameroon border on 15 February 2014 and it is expected in Bangui early this week. RwaMechBatt1 peacekeepers first opened the 700 km humanitarian Corridor on 27 January 2014.
Bangui and CAR had been cut off from supplies by armed groups controlling the Bangui-Cameroon main supply road that connects it to the sea port of Douala in Cameroon.
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