Rwandan peacekeeper kills 4 colleagues in Central African Republic

A Rwandan soldier serving under UN peacekeeping mission in Central Africa Republic opened fire on comrades early Saturday, killing four of them and wounded eight others before shot dead himself, Rwanda's Defence and Military spokesperson said Saturday.

The incident occurred on Saturday at around 5:45 a.m. local time in Bangui, at Rwanda Battalion Headquarters. The casualties were immediately evacuated to Level two Hospital in Bangui, spokesperson Brigadier General Joseph Nzabamwita said in a statement.

Nzabamwita said investigations have immediately commenced to establish the motive behind this deplorable shooting of colleagues.

"We suspect terrorism without ruling out mental illness to be the cause," Brigadier General Nzabamwita said while sending heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and the entire Rwanda Defence Forces fraternity.

Since January 2014, Rwanda has deployed battalion of 800 soldiers to reinforce the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic.

In addition, another special forces comprising of 140 Rwandan police officers, who are part of Rwanda's elite Police Unit, have been deployed to be stationed in Bangui to conduct patrols, ensure protection of VIPs, key installations and other escort duties, it said.