The allegations are the latest to have been made against UN peacekeeping missions in recent years.
In the spring of 2014, allegations came to light that international troops serving as peacekeepers had sexually abused a number of young children in exchange for food or money. The alleged perpetrators were largely from a French military force known as Sangaris, which was operating under authorization of the Security Council but not under UN command.
Investigations and patrols
Other measures include the establishment of a Police-Force joint brigade to identify sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrators and deter the occurrence of new cases. He underlined the need to conduct patrols in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in close collaboration with internal CAR security forces.
The Mission continues to investigate each and every allegation of misconduct, and a fact finding mission is currently underway.
The National Authorities have been informed in Bangui and the Troop Contributing Countries in question have been informed officially in New York. Mr. Onanga-Anyanga called on them to conduct their own national investigations immediately and the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services will also be involved as appropriate.
The nearly 11,000-strong MINUSCA, set up in 2014 after fighting between the mainly Muslim Séléka and mainly Christian anti-Balaka groups erupted in early 2013, killing thousands of people and driving hundreds of thousands more from their homes, played a major role in providing security last month for the first round of presidential and legislative elections.
