A coordinated assault on a United Nations base in Am Dafock, located near the Sudanese border, resulted in injuries to three Zambian peacekeepers on Tuesday. The perpetrators were identified as fighters from Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces alongside members of the former Seleka rebel group.
The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) issued a formal condemnation of the early morning attack. Among the three wounded personnel, one individual sustained serious injuries and required emergency medical evacuation via UN aircraft.
Valentine Rugwabiza, who serves as the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, stated that these hostilities could be classified as war crimes. Local sub-prefect Ramadan Abdelkader reported that the violent clash resulted in 22 fatalities, prompting urgent requests for reinforcements.
Subsequent to the initial ground attack, local reports indicated that Russian forces conducted aerial strikes against the rebel factions in an effort to stabilize the strategic border town. Am Dafock remains a volatile region frequently subjected to incursions due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan that began in April 2023.
