RAPAPORT… The United Nations (U.N.) has called for an immediate truce between rival groups in the Central African Republic fighting for control over diamond mines, according to a statement obtained by AFP.
The statement declared that the U.N. expressed its strong concern over the violent fighting between rival groups Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) and the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP) in Bria and called for an immediate ceasefire. It advised local authorities to ensure the safety of vulnerable parts of the population, including women and children.
A military official in the Central African Republic noted that fighting in the central diamond hub of Bria had claimed 30 lives in the past week.