The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic based in Bangui, announced the Secretariat’s decision to repatriate a force of 60 Tanzanian soldiers from the mission.
The Tanzanian soldiers had been sent to a temporary operational base in the western part of the country.
They are being chucked out following serious allegations of sexual abuse by the peacekeepers. A United Nations’ spokesperson recently briefed reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.
A spokesman for the UN secretary general, Stéphane Dujarric, revealed that …
“The decision comes after a preliminary investigation which found credible evidence that 11 peacekeepers of the unit were allegedly involved in sexual abuse of four victims.”
Explaining further Dujarric said …
“The identified victims are being provided with care and support from humanitarian operations partners.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has also sent a team to further talk to the community.
According to Dujarric, “Tanzanian authorities have been formally notified and have sent national investigation officers to the Central African Republic.
In reaffirming their commitment to zero tolerance for sexual and sexual harassment, Tanzanian authorities noted the seriousness of the allegations and are committed to taking the necessary steps to address these issues.”
“The unit has been transferred to another camp while investigations continue, and the unit’s perpetrators have been detained at the camp, this is for the protection of the victims and of course the integrity of the investigation.
The squad will be sent home once their presence is no longer required for investigators.”
Dujarric also explained, “The Secretariat’s decision to reinstate this force is in accordance with Security Council resolution 2272, whereby the Council ‘approves the decision of the Secretary-General to repatriate a particular military force or to create a police unit of the force when there is credible evidence of widespread or systematic sexual harassment by the unit’.
He stressed that, “the United Nations remains committed to strictly enforcing the Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy of sexual exploitation and abuse.”