MISCA strongly condemns unprovoked attacks on its staff

BANGUI, Central African Republic, March 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU) and Head of the African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA), Gen. Jean Marie Michel Mokoko has expressed outrage and indignation at the unprovoked attack on one of its clearly marked vehicles transporting three MISCA Members of Staff. The attack by yet unidentified armed assailants occurred last night at around 7:30 p.m. near the Reconciliation Roundabout (Ali Bongo Monument) in Bangui, seriously injuring a MISCA Finance Officer and a Nurse. The third person in the vehicle, a MISCA Surgeon received minor injuries. The Finance Officer and Nurse are in stable condition and have been medically evacuated to Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. In a separate incident, two MISCA Peacekeepers on duty providing security at Hôpital de l'Amitié, in Bangui, also came under a grenade attack, yesterday. No serious injuries were reported.

The Special Representative condemns in the strongest terms this totally unwarranted assault on international peacekeepers and urges the CAR Transitional Authorities to do everything in their power to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the suspects. He reiterates the warning issued, on 21 March 2014, by the International Contact Group (ICG), at its 4th meeting held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, that all spoiler groups and individuals in the CAR will be held accountable. He urges all armed groups to turn-in their weapons and join the dialogue and reconciliation process recently launched by the Transitional Government.

The Special Representative wishes a speedy recovery to the injured medical staff and calls on all MISCA uniformed and civilian personnel to remain vigilant and continue fulfilling the Mission's mandate with the same exemplary dedication and commitment.