Eight UN Peacekeepers Detained in Congo Over Sexual Abuse Claims

Eight U.N. peacekeepers in Democratic Republic of Congo have been detained over allegations of sexual abuse, sources told Reuters on Thursday, as the U.N. said it would investigate unspecified serious misconduct.

The U.N. peace-keeping mission in eastern Congo, known as MONUSCO, said in a statement that it had suspended a number of its peacekeepers in response to reports of the misconduct, without giving further details.

A U.N. source and a Congolese security source said the allegations concerned eight South African peacekeepers in the eastern city of Beni. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss it with the media.

“We have been informed by our U.N. counterparts that eight South African peacekeepers have been detained over accusations of sexual abuse,” said the security source in Beni.

The U.N. source said the allegations involved brothels that were set up near the camps of the South African contingent.

Spokespeople from South Africa’s defence department and foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.