Fresh allegations of rape by UN troops emerge in DRC

The United Nations (UN) has confirmed fresh allegations of rape against its peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The organisation has been in the spotlight for months following allegations of sexual abuse by its blue helmets, mainly in the Central Africa Republic that now total more than 100.

Tanzanian troops that are part of Monusco’s Force Intervention Brigade alongside the South African National Defence Force and Malawian troops are thus far the only contingent to be implicated in the sexual abuse claims in the DRC.

It is a region left vulnerable after decades of conflict and those sent to keep communities safe, allegedly abusing the responsibility entrusted them.

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon’s Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric says, “The UN mission there announced that it has received allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by members of the Tanzanian contingent of the mission’s force intervention brigade in Mavivi village in the eastern part of the country. According to preliminary information there are 11 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against a Tanzanian contingent in the area, all of them involve paternity claims.”

SABC asked the spokesperson on whether the 11 paternity claims were just the tip of the iceberg, similar to the spiralling allegations in the CAR.
“You’re asking me to predict something I can’t predict. I don’t know if it’s the beginning of something else, what we do know is that these specific allegations currently are the only contingent being looked at is the Tanzanian contingent. Obviously whether it’s the CAR or the DRC, we would urge those who have information to come forward and we want to make sure that those members of the communities feel safe enough to come forward.”

The implicated soldiers have been detained at base awaiting further investigation while all Tanzanian troops have been confined to base, while a top UN official on sexual abuse is expected in the region soon.

Dujarric says, “The Secretary General’s Special coordinator for improving the UN’s response to sexual exploitation and abuse Jane Holl Lute will travel to the CAR and the DRC in the next few days. This is her first field visit to peacekeeping operations since she took up her post on March 1st.”

It is still unclear when these alleged rapes took place in the DRC and given the paternity claims, the UN is trying to verify the ages of the children born to the alleged victims.

Troop contributing countries, such as Tanzania in this instance would be responsible for investigating and prosecuting the alleged perpetrators, failing which the UN would step in.

Joint investigations between the Office of Internal Oversight and concerned Troop Contributing Countries are expected to be launched in the Central African Republic shortly.

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