Additional allegations against our troops of misconduct, sexual exploitation and abuse, and fraternization with the local population have come to MINUSCA’s attention today. 

In response, MINUSCA on Thursday will dispatch a multifunctional team to the location to gather the facts, sensitize the troops involved, and to take immediate preventive and disciplinary measures; and more broadly to take corrective action against misconduct behavior throughout the mission. 

When told of these allegations, SRSG Parfait Onanga-Anyanga condemned such acts as completely unacceptable in a UN peacekeeping mission, conveyed his commitment to ensure justice is served in each and every case, and repeated his intention to take swift and appropriate measures should the allegations be substantiated.  While acknowledging MINUSCA troops put their lives at risk to bravely protect CAR civilians every day with limited means and in harsh conditions, he also reiterated that any single incident of abuse was utterly abhorrent. Finally, the SRSG expressed his sadness that such reports continue to emerge in spite of all MINUSCA’s transparency policy and zero tolerance policy and efforts to prevent, investigate, and ensure accountability for such misconduct.