Rebels kill 1 UN peacekeeper in Central African Republic

At least one peacekeeper was killed and ar two were injured on Friday in two successive attacks by armed rebels near town of Grimari in Central African Republic, United Nations Mission in country said.

Members from a coalition of armed rebels std attacks while peacekeepers from both Burundi and Bangladesh were carrying out a security operation around Grimari, more than 200 kilometers (120 miles) rast of capital, Bangui. Burundian peacekeeper was killed in second ambush, and two Bangladeshi peacekeepers were during attacks and are receiving treatment, U.N. mission in Central African Republic, kwn as MINUSCA, said in a statement.

A sharp increase in violence in past few weeks has forced more than 60,000 people to flee country, seeking refuge in Cameroon, Congo and or neighboring countries, United Nations Refugee ncy said.

Congo has received highest number of refugees — about 50,000 since December, which includes about 10,000 that arrived on Wednesday when rebel coalition std attacks on outskirts of Bangui, U.N. ncy said. However, Cameroon has also seen an increase in number of families, especially women and children, coming from Central African Republic, it added.

“In beginning when y came in, y said it was a preventive movement, y were afraid because y remembered violence that y have experienced in 2013,” said Helen Ngoh Ada, spokeswoman for U.N. Refugee ncy in Cameroon. “Lately, those who have been coming in have been saying that y came traumatized basically, and y experienced some form of abuse, human rights violations, and that’s why y fled,” she said during an interview with Associated Press.

People are allowed to cross from Central African Republic to Cameroon, but borders are closed for traders and trucks and supplies have t entered into Central African Republic for several days, said Ngoh Ada. “It means that livelihoods of people in Central African Republic are threatened, and that will be one of reasons why people would be crossing over into Cameroon” she added.

On Wednesday security forces repelled attacks by rebels trying to seize Bangui, after intense fighting on city’s outskirts in a major escalation of violence that has rocked country since last month.

At least one Rwandan peacekeeper was killed and ar injured, said United Nations. Prime Minister of Central African Republic, Firmin Ngrebada, said at least 30 rebels also died.

rebels are protesting reelection on Dec. 27 of President Faustin-Archange Touadera. Following Jan. 4 anuncement of Touadera’s victory, rebel coalition threatened to take capital. y had also taken towns in or parts of country before election.

army is supported in its battle against rebels by forces from Rwanda, Russia, France and United Nations.

mineral-rich Central African Republic has faced deadly inter-religious and inter-communal fighting since 2013, when predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power from former president Francois Bozize after long claiming marginalization. Resistance to Seleka rule eventually led to Muslims being targeted en masse, with some beaten to death, mosques destroyed and tens of thousands forced from capital in 2014.

Bozize has been blamed for inflaming violence in Central African country in last weeks, which erupted after constitutional court rejected his candidacy in December.