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UN Security Council Outraged Over Mass Rapes in DRC

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The UN Security Council voiced outrage at recent mass rapes in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), despite the presence of UN peacekeeping troops. The mass rapes, which took place between July 30 and August 3, resulted in the rape of almost 200 women and baby boys by hundreds of Rwandan Hutu "genocidaires" and Congolese rebels. The UN first received information about the rapes on August 12, but unfortunately, their peacekeeping patrols were not informed, and they failed to protect the villagers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The mass rapes occurred between July 30 and August 3, involving hundreds of Rwandan Hutu "genocidaires" and Congolese rebels.
  • The UN peacekeeping patrols passed through the villages but were not informed about the rapes, despite receiving information about the presence of rebels on July 31 and August 1.
  • The UN first received information about the rapes on August 12, when a charity reported the incidents.
  • Atul Khare, a UN peacekeeping official, has been sent to investigate the incident, and Roger Meece, the head of the UN mission in DRC, acknowledged possible reasons for the local villagers' failure to report the rapes, including fear of reprisals and shame.
  • The UN has almost 20,000 peacekeepers in the DRC, but unfortunately, they did not move to protect the villagers despite receiving an e-mail on July 30 advising them to stay away from the area.
  • The UN Security Council has brainstormed ways to improve communications between outlying villages and peacekeepers, including supplying radios and satellite phones.
  • Susan Rice, Washington's UN Ambassador, expressed horror and outrage over the incident and emphasized the need for better communication between UN forces and local villagers.

Statistics:

  • Almost 200 women and baby boys were raped by hundreds of Rwandan Hutu "genocidaires" and Congolese rebels between July 30 and August 3.
  • The UN peacekeeping patrols passed through the villages, but two patrols on August 2 and August 9 failed to inform the UN about the rapes.
  • The UN has almost 20,000 peacekeepers in the DRC.
  • The Security Council has brainstormed ways to improve communications between outlying villages and peacekeepers, including supplying radios and satellite phones.

Sources:

  • [Reuters]
  • [The New York Times]

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