NEW YORK, 26 December, 2020, (TON): United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday strongly condemned the attacks by unidentified armed combatants on UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR), said his spokesman.

Friday's attacks on the national defense and security forces of the CAR and the UN peacekeeping force in the country left three peacekeepers from Burundi killed and two others wounded, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.

The Secretary-General offered his deepest condolences to the family of the deceased as well as to the Government of Burundi, and wished a swift recovery to the injured.

The Secretary-General “urges the Central African Republic authorities to spare no effort in investigating and identifying the perpetrators so that they can be swiftly brought to justice,” Mr. Dujarric said, recalling that attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute a war crime and that sanctions can be applied against perpetrators who are brought to justice.

The secretary-general reaffirmed the continued commitment of the UN to supporting efforts to advance peace and stability in the CAR, it said.

On 3 June, an attack by armed insurgents killed a UN peacekeeper from Tanzania and injured seven others while they were patrolling in the country’s west.