Bangui (AFP)

Three UN peacekeepers from the UN force in Central Africa (Minusca) died Friday in the accidental crash of their helicopter at the time of its landing in Bouar, in the west of the country, announced the Minusca.

"A Mi-24 helicopter from the Minusca, with its four members of the Senegalese Air Force, was the victim of a crash (...) during a support mission," said Minusca on Friday in a statement. .

The fourth crewmember "is in critical condition," according to the UN, and was being evacuated to the hospital for intensive care.

"According to the first elements, this accident is due to bad weather conditions that made it impossible to land," the statement added.

The crash of this Russian-built attack helicopter was confirmed by the Senegalese army in a statement issued Friday afternoon. "The General Staff of the Armed Forces is in constant contact with the United Nations authorities with a view to the evacuation of the wounded and the repatriation of the remains," the Ministry of the Armed Forces said.

The Minusca led Thursday an attack against the Central African armed group back claim rehabilitation (3R) in Koui, in the north-west of the country, confirmed to AFP several officials of the Minusca on condition of anonymity.

On Thursday night, the rebel movement claimed that one of its bases had been bombed by blue helmets.

3R is one of 14 armed groups that signed on 6 February a peace agreement with the Central African government, which aims to end the conflict that has plagued the country since 2013.

On Wednesday, Minusca spokesman Vladimir Monteiro called on 3R leader Sidiki Abass to "deliver the perpetrators of the May massacres in the Paoua region."

Forty-six civilians had been killed by elements of the 3Rs in this northern region of the country. To date, only three alleged perpetrators have been handed over to the authorities.

On September 4, Sidiki Abass, also known as Sidi Bi Soulemane, announced his resignation as military advisor to the Central African government, which he held as part of the peace agreement.

Sidi Bi Soulemane joined the government on 6 March, along with other representatives of the 14 armed groups that signed the Khartoum agreement.

Despite a relative lull since the signing of this peace agreement, violence against civilians and armed groups continues in the Central African Republic.

On 14 September, two armed groups that signed the agreement clashed in Birao, in the far north-east of the country. Some 13,000 people were displaced by these fighting, which caused the death of 23 militiamen.

Rich in natural resources, the Central African Republic has been torn apart since 2013 by a war that forced nearly a quarter of its 4.7 million people to flee their homes.

© 2019 AFP