U.N. convoy ambushed in Central African Republic; 1 peacekeeper killed

BANGUI, Central African Republic, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- A United Nations peacekeeping convoy came under fire Thursday evening in the the outskirts of the Central African Republic's capital, Bangui.

One peacekeeper was killed and eight others wounded, one severely.

The attack comes less than a month after the U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) took over peacekeeping duties from the African Union.

Head of the U.N. Mission, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Babacar Gaye, condemned the attack on a "non-partisan organization." He underlined that while the U.N. "will work with all actors to fulfill our aims, to promote peace and reconciliation in the Central African Republic," MINUSCA "will continue to take robust action against criminal elements who threaten civilians."

It is unclear who launched the attack against the U.N. peacekeeping convoy.

MINUSCA was deployed in September with a one-year mandate, per UNSC Resolution 2149, to protect civilians, support the governmental transition process, facilitate humanitarian assistance deliveries, protect U.N. personnel and facilities, promote and protect human rights, support rule of law, and support disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, and repatriation efforts.

The U.N. authorized "MINUSCA to take all necessary means to carry out its mandate, within its capabilities and its areas of deployment."

Violence broke out in March 2013 when the Muslim-backed Séléka group took control of Bangui and removed Christian President François Bozizé, leading to more than a year of ethnic and religious violence.