Secretary-General, Condemning Recent Attacks in Central African Republic, Urges

Transitional Authority to Prevent Further Violence, Ensure Accountability

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the recent attacks in the Central African Republic, including yesterday at the Church of Notre Dame de Fatima in Bangui in which an unknown number of people, including the priest, were killed and others were abducted.

The attack follows violence in the capital earlier in the week during which three Muslim youths were brutally killed by suspected anti-balaka elements on their way to an inter-communal reconciliation football match.

The Secretary-General encourages the Central African Republic’s Transitional Authority to do everything within its means to prevent further violence in the capital and throughout the country, and to take concrete measures to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.  He calls on the international forces present in the Central African Republic to take all necessary measures in support of these efforts.

The Secretary-General calls for an immediate end to the cycle of violence and retaliatory attacks.  He encourages the Central African Republic’s leaders and partners in the subregion to work with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA) to facilitate progress towards meaningful national dialogue and reconciliation in order to chart a sustainable path to peace.

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For information media • not an official record