daniel chigunwe
LAGOS. — The United Nations said it will repatriate nine peacekeepers from a South African contingent in eastern Congo who were accused of sexual assault and other abuse.
The UN decided to immediately repatriate the peacekeepers and a senior officer of the South African army “due to the seriousness of the allegations against them,” the organisation said in a statement.
The senior officer allegedly tried to hinder a probe into the allegations and threatened other peacekeepers. Two other indicted senior officers will also be replaced, the UN said.
The UN said its preliminary assessment found that the nine peacekeepers were “fraternizing after curfew hours” in prohibited bars where prostitution takes place. The soldiers were also alleged to have assaulted staff of the peacekeeping mission and the military police who were trying to arrest them.”
South African authorities have indicated their “full cooperation, in particular through the deployment of a national investigator,” the UN said, promising that victims would be assisted and that the peacekeeping mission would remain committed to upholding UN standards. – AP
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