Official of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central Africa Republic (CAR), confirmed that one of its members has been abducted by the anti-Balaka rebel group in Bangui.
The official said on Tuesday in Bangui that the kidnapping took place as Dieudonne Nzapalainga, Archbishop of Bangui was engaged in efforts to negotiate the release of a French charity worker and a local staff member who were abducted by anti-Balaka on Monday.
An eye witness, a local market vendor who spoke on condition of anonymity said armed men stopped a bus of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the CAR (Minusca) on Tuesday morning at a market place in Bangui’s eighth district.
He said one of its passengers managed to flee while the other, a woman thought to be of Kurdish origin, was kidnapped.
“We saw a white lady driving off in a taxi, with three anti-Balaka members at her side,” he said.
Minusca said it has dispatched vehicles to search for the woman shortly after the abduction.
According to a report, as news of the abduction spread, Archbishop Nzapalainga and local authorities were approaching the rebel leaders in an attempt to mediate in the conflict.
Meanwhile, the French peacekeepers stationed in CAR, have surrounded the anti-Balaka controlled Bangui neighbourhood of Boy Rabe, where the hostages are believed to be held.
It said in retribution for last week’s arrest of anti-Balaka leader Rodrigue Ngaibona the two hostages, who work for catholic medical charity Diocesan Health Coordination, were kidnapped in the capital’s Fouh area on Monday,.
Four rebels armed with Kalachnikov machine guns stopped a car carrying three staff members of the charity.
The gunmen raided the vehicle, which was loaded with medical kits, and robbed the aid workers of their belongings.
The driver of the car was let go, while the two others were kidnapped.
The French government has demanded the immediate release of the French national, a 67-year-old woman.