Six minors, five women impregnated by UN peacekeepers in Congo

Six minors were among 11 victims of alleged sexual abuse by Tanzanian UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that resulted in pregnancies, a UN spokesman has said.

The allegations from the DRC came to light during the weekend as the UN had been embroiled in numerous reports of sexual abuse and exploitation by its peacekeepers over the last year.

The sexual abuse and exploitation mainly involved troops in the Central African Republic.

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

“We can confirm that out of the 11 allegedly abused women, six were minors.

“Seven of the alleged victims have already given birth and four women are still pregnant,” Mr. Haq said.

He said 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 DRC “in the coming days”.

(dpa/NAN)