Agence France-Presse has reported, citing UN sources that the United Nations is investigating the operation near Bria allegedly conducted by government troops and the private military company Wagner Group.
The operation, purportedly conducted on 16-17 January, left more than 30 people dead. The news agency added that the operation targeted militants from the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC).
"MINUSCA dispatched a joint mission, comprised of the Force, UNPOL, and the human rights team, to the incident area, and continues to assess the situation, ensuring necessary measures to be taken to protect civilians", Dujarric said on late Friday.
He added that the mission would confirm the number of casualties and displacement.
The African nation was plunged into a security crisis by a coup 2013, followed by violence between Muslim-majority Seleka and Christian Anti-Balaka fighters. The government and the leaders of 14 armed groups signed a peace deal in February 2019 to put an end to the fighting. However, the authorities have yet to regain control of large parts of the country.