UN Peacekeepers Accused of Rape and Indiscriminate Killings in Central African Republic

United Nations peacekeepers are facing allegations of rape and indiscriminate killings in the Central African Republic, further straining the beleaguered UN mission in the country. Amnesty International reported that a 12-year-old girl was raped by a man wearing a UN peacekeeping forces vest, while a 16-year-old boy and his father were shot dead by peacekeepers. The claims come amidst increasing pressure on the UN mission, which is already under scrutiny over its handling of allegations of child sexual abuse by French soldiers and its own peacekeepers.

Key Takeaways:

• A 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a man wearing a UN peacekeeping forces vest while hiding in a bathroom during a house search in a Muslim enclave of Bangui on August 2.
• The girl's family members stated that she was separated from the rest of the family for about 20-30 minutes, during which time she was allegedly taken outside and raped behind a truck.
• A 16-year-old boy and his father, Balla Hadji, 61, were shot dead by peacekeepers in front of their house, allegedly due to "indiscriminate shooting" in the street.
• Witnesses, including family members and neighbors, reported that the peacekeepers did not provide assistance to the wounded boy and his father, instead firing another round when the daughter tried to cross the street to reach her relatives.
• An external investigation into the operation had already been underway, with conclusions due on August 16, which will now be broadened to include the alleged rape and killings.
• Anyone found guilty of the alleged crimes could face prosecution by the Central African Republic's own legal authorities.

Statistics:

• The alleged rape occurred on August 2, when a 12-year-old girl was taken outside and raped behind a truck by a man wearing a UN peacekeeping forces vest.
• A 16-year-old boy and his father were shot dead by peacekeepers on the same day, in front of their house.
• The external investigation into the operation had already been underway since the incident, with conclusions due on August 16.
• 15 witnesses were interviewed by Amnesty International immediately after the incidents, including the 12-year-old girl and her family.

Sources:

• Amnesty International
• The Guardian
• UN Multidimensional Integrated Mission in CAR
• Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General
• Joanne Mariner, Amnesty International senior crisis response adviser
• Hamadoun Toure, UN Multidimensional Integrated Mission in CAR spokesperson
• Stephane Dujarric, Ban Ki-moon spokesman