BANGUI, Central African Republic (Reuters) — The United Nations announced on Friday that eleven U.N. peacekeepers deployed in the Central African Republic have been implicated in allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. The U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) revealed that preliminary evidence gathered by the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services points to members of a Tanzanian peacekeeping unit stationed in the country’s western region as the perpetrators.
According to MINUSCA’s statement, immediate action was taken upon learning of the allegations. A rapid intervention team was deployed to assess the situation and provide support to the alleged victims. The unit in question was subsequently relocated to another base, where they are confined to barracks to ensure the safety of the victims and the integrity of the investigation. The victims have received necessary medical, psychosocial, and protection support through MINUSCA’s partners.
The evidence suggests a breakdown in command and control over the personnel involved, and once the investigation is concluded, the entire unit of 60 peacekeepers will be repatriated. While it is suspected that some of the victims may be minors, this is yet to be confirmed.
The Central African Republic, a resource-rich but impoverished nation, has been plagued by deadly intercommunal violence since 2013. The U.N. peacekeeping mission, comprising nearly 17,500 uniformed personnel, was deployed in response to the conflict. However, the U.N. has faced persistent scrutiny over allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by its peacekeepers, particularly in countries like the Central African Republic and neighboring Congo.
In 2021, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres ordered the immediate repatriation of a Gabonese contingent operating in the Central African Republic due to credible reports of sexual abuse involving some of its 450 members. These recent allegations further highlight the ongoing challenge of addressing misconduct within U.N. peacekeeping operations.
