5 Women, 6 Minors Impregnated By UN Peacekeepers In Congo

Six minors were recorded among the eleven victims of alleged sexual abuse by Tanzanian UN Peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that resulted in pregnancies, a UN spokesman said.

The allegations from the DRC were made during the weekend as the UN received several reports of sexual abuse and exploitation by its peacekeepers over the last year.

According to NAN NewYork, the alleged sexual abuse and exploitation mainly concerned troops in the Central African Republic.

The Deputy Spokesman, Farhan Haq, for UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, confirmed the allegation.

He said, ”We can confirm that out of the eleven (11) allegedly abused women, six (6), were minors. Seven (7) of the alleged victims have already given birth and four (4) women are still pregnant. They have been referred to UNICEF which has deployed a team on the ground”.

He added that Tanzania, which had the primary responsibility to respond to the allegations as the troop-contributing country, had appointed a team of investigators that would travel to DCR ”in the coming days”.

Africanews also reports that the United Nations Military Mission in DRC said it is investigating claims of sex abuse by members of its Tanzanian contingent.

”At this stage, on the Tanzanian brigade, pending the results of an investigation all measures will be considered in terms of how we respond including potentially the repatriation of the unit and command accountability will also be sought.”