UN receives new allegations of rape by Minusca peacekeepers in vehicle

Already reeling from multiple reports of child sex abuse by United Nations peacekeeping forces in Central African Republic, the agency announced even more allegations of what might amount to ongoing serial sexual assaults by aid workers in the second-poorest nation on Earth.

Ms Maestracci said that Bambari is where troops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are deployed. The sources said the United Nations in New York was made aware of the allegations on August 17 and the Congolese authorities the same day.

A statement from the peacekeeping mission, issued in French on Wednesday, said that UN headquarters was “immediately informed” of the most recent allegations and that “all available evidence” was being collected.

The UN Security Council on Tuesday expressed outrage and anger over the mounting allegations and said troop-contributing countries must investigate. “Should the member state decline to investigate or fail to respond the United Nations [will] rapidly conduct its own investigation”.

Minusca, which took over from an African Union mission almost a year ago, has been hit by a series of allegations involving its soldiers.

Since in creation in April 2014, MINUSCA has received 61 reports of misconduct, Maestracci said Wednesday.

In at least one case of alleged sexual abuse or exploitation by a peacekeeper in auto, a country repatriated its accused citizen, the UN said. Misconduct can include use of force violations, or theft.

Maestracci said four peacekeepers and two members of the missions’ police units have been repatriated to their countries at the Secretariat’s request.

Starting in December 2013, according to UN human rights investigators, French and African peacekeepers sexually abused boys in the Central African Republic’s capital of Bangui over a period of several months.

Despite the light shed on MINUSCA – by no means alone among missions plagued by sexual abuse allegations – incidents continued.

The peacekeepers’ main objective in the destitute Central African Republic is to provide critical assistance, such as food, to the tens of thousands of poverty-stricken residents, many of whom are women and children.

“Going forward, you may wish to consider that there could be a systemic problem”, wrote Gaye.

UN peacekeeping forces have long had a presence on the continent – particularly sub-Saharan regions – to provide aid and prevent exactly the type of activity the troops are accused of participating in.

Ms. Maestracci elaborated that the mission was determined to punish any acts of misconduct, including sexual violence by its personnel – hence the importance of protecting the integrity of the investigations and the confidentiality of victims and witnesses.