2023-10-12 00:20:29
The head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), Bintou Keita, in Eringeti, July 28, 2023. STRINGER / REUTERS
The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) announced on Wednesday October 11 that it had taken “strong measures” against peacekeepers suspected of “serious misconduct”.
According to internal MONUSCO documents consulted by Agence France-Presse, eight peacekeepers deployed in Beni, in eastern DRC, were arrested on October 1 and one officer suspended on October 8, as part of a case of alleged sexual exploitation and violence.
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These men belong to the South African contingent of the UN force and could be involved in what internal reports describe as “systematic and widespread violation” UN rules against sexual exploitation and abuse.
According to a preliminary report, the targeted officer allegedly “intimidated and verbally threatened” members of the UN after the arrest of peacekeepers for a case of frequenting brothels, resulting in an attempt to flee, a fight and a chase with elements of the UN military police.
« Soweto, Bloemfontein, Cape Town »of the “brothels” in the names of South African cities and “makeshift bars appeared in front of the Monusco base in Mavivi”near Beni, “used for transactional sex”we can read in one of MONUSCO’s internal documents.
“Behavior that is not worthy of United Nations personnel”
“The Office of Internal Oversight Services has been contacted and precautionary measures have already been taken in accordance with the zero tolerance policy of the Secretary General of the United Nations”indicated the UN mission Wednesday evening in a press release.
The taken procedures “include the suspension, detention and confinement of the peacekeepers concerned”adds MONUSCO, which says “strongly condemn such behavior which is not worthy of United Nations personnel”.
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Since May, the Congolese President, Félix Tshisekedi, has called on the countries of the Community of Southern African States (SACD), including South Africa, to deploy in the DRC in support of the Congolese army in the face of the rebel rebellion. M23 which seized large parts of the North Kivu province.
The DRC government also calls for a departure ” accelerated “ from next December of the UN force, which he accuses, after twenty-five years of presence, of not having succeeded in putting an end to the violence of armed groups.
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