26-year-old French Journalist Killed In Central African Republic

A 26-year-old French photographer on assignment in Central African Republic has been killed, French president’s office says.

The statement on Tuesday confirmed the death of Camille Lepage, who had been covering the crisis in Central African Republic for months.

Colleagues in Bangui said Lepage had been travelling in a village about 60 kilometres west of Bouar, near the country’s border with Cameroon when she was caught in fighting.

Lepage had sold her photos to a number of news agencies and French publications while working as a freelancer.

She recently had been selected for a prestigious New York Times portfolio review and workshop.

A native of Angers, France, she also had worked extensively in Juba, South Sudan.

France has deployed 1,600 troops to join African Union (AU)’s 6,000 in a bid to disarm militia fighters and put an end to crisis in the central African country.