UN peacekeeping mission in C.Africa kills 3 rebel fighters

BANGUI: Three militia fighters were killed in western Central African Republic last week in clashes with peacekeepers, the UN mission in the country has said.

UN peacekeepers from Rwanda fought off an attack by the 3R armed group on Friday in Gedze, in the prefecture of Nana-Mambere, MINUSCA spokesman Charles Bambara said in a statement late Wednesday.

The 3R militia said last month that it was suspending its participation in a peace agreement signed by the Central African government and rebel groups last year.

MINUSCA has since launched a military operation to counter the expansion of the armed group.

In mid-July, a Rwandan peacekeeper was killed in a 3R attack, the UN mission said.

"To date, MINUSCA peacekeepers have regained control of NIEM (Nana-Mambere) chasing the 3R elements who avoided combat. The advancement of (Central African armed forces and) MINUSCA troops continues in areas previously under 3R control," MINUSCA wrote on Twitter.

One of the world's poorest and most unstable nations, the CAR has suffered several violent crises since 2003 when former president Francois Bozize seized power in a coup.

The country spiralled into bloodshed after Bozize was overthrown in 2013.

Fighting has since forced nearly a quarter of the country's 4.5 million people to flee their homes, and rival militia groups control most of the country.

One of the UN's biggest peacekeeping missions, MINUSCA has more than 13,000 troops and police in support of the elected president, Faustin-Archange Touadera.

A presidential election is expected to be held in December 2020.