The 2000 civilians were rescued by the humanitarian and commercial goods convoy escorted by RDF peacekeepers
Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) peacekeepers in Central African Republic, on Sunday, rescued 2,000 Muslim civilians after being attacked by Christian anti-balaka militia group.
The civilians were rescued by RDF peacekeepers after a humanitarian and commercial goods convoy escorted by Rwanda peacekeepers came under attack on the way to the CAR- Cameroon border.
The cowardly attack on the humanitarian convoy left three innocent civilians dead. They were among the 2000 rescued civilians along the way. Three civilians were also injured and rushed to a Hospital in Cameroon.
According to RDF officials, 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 Beloko, a village near the CAR-Cameroon border by armed Anti-Balaka militias.
“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,” RDF said in a statement.
Rwanda Defence Forces spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita condemned the attack and called on all armed groups in CAR to lay down weapons and stop the violence.
“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.”
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 is expected in Bangui early this week.
Rwanda Defence Force 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.