A French soldier was killed in a road accident in Bangui, Central African Republic's capital, bringing the total number of French fatalities in the country to three since December 2013, the Defense Ministry announced.

A corporal of the Poitiers Marine Infantry Tank Regiment died in a road accident 400 km from Bangui, during a reconnaissance mission of roads in the region of Bouar, west of the capital, the minister said in a statement issued late on Sunday.

Two other soldiers on board of the light armored vehicle were also injured in the accident. Their lives were not in danger, the ministry added.

In early December, France, with the United Nations' support, gave the green light to its forces to launch a military offensive in its former colony to protect civilians following an escalation of the violence in which thousands of people were killed.

Around 2,000 French servicemen have been deployed in the African country so far to help restore order and disarm rival Muslim and Christian fighters responsible for the bloody conflict.