UN removes Central African Republic peacekeepers after sexual assault allegations News
© WikiMedia (Tatiana Mossot (VOA))
UN removes Central African Republic peacekeepers after sexual assault allegations

The UN announced Friday that a Tanzanian unit of peacekeeping forces deployed with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) was removed after sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) allegations. 

The UN said that eleven members of the unit were found to have credible allegations from four victims. The entire unit will be repatriated per UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2272, which requires that the entire unit be removed if allegations are discovered to be “widespread.”

The statement went on to confirm that members of the unit are being investigated by Tanzanian authorities who have “noted the seriousness of the allegations and have committed to taking the necessary action to address these matters.” The statement also emphasized that services are being provided to support the victims.

This is not the first time MINUSCA has been the subject of SEA allegations. In December 2021, all peacekeeping forces from Gabon were removed from MINUSCA after allegations from five young girls. In 2014, a teenage girl made SEA allegations against a French soldier, and in August 2015, the head of MINUSCA resigned amid similar allegations against peacekeeping forces.

In a 2018 bulletin released by MINUSCA, the Conduct and Discipline Team stated that it investigated 144 SEA allegations perpetrated against minors and 123 against adults, 267 total, between 2015 and 2018. Data on SEA allegations by MINUSCA members from the Office of Conduct in UN Field Missions shows that the majority of alleged perpetrators were uniformed military personnel.

MINUSCA currently has 16,363 uniformed military personnel, 1,236 civilian staff and 286 UN volunteers in the Central African Republic.

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