No injuries were reported in the incident when Portuguese paratroopers were called to intervene “to respond to an exchange of fire near a Catholic church” in an operation involving the UN mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
The Portuguese force was sent to protect the civilians and gather information about the situation, the army said in a communiqué.
Security patrols were made in the area and the army is on site to maintain safety in the location, it added.