UN Withdraws Gabonese Peacekeepers From Central African Republic

The UN is withdrawing the Gabonese peacekeepers from its mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) after sexual abuse allegations, the Gabonese government said on Wednesday.

The UN has decided to withdraw 450 contingent from MUNISCA, the Gabonese peacekeeping force deployed in the Central African Republic, over accusations of sexual exploitation and abuse, the Defense Ministry said in a statement "ed by local media.

The decision followed "numerous allegations in recent weeks of serious acts contrary to military ethics and the honor of the armies, committed by certain elements of the Gabonese battalion," the ministry said.

It added that the Gabonese Defense Ministry had opened an investigation into the allegations, and if the "alleged facts are proven the perpetrators will be prosecuted before military courts."

"Gabon has always demanded irreproachable and exemplary behavior from its army, both on its territory and abroad," it added.

According to UN conventions, troops involved in the allegations of sexual abuse are not prosecuted in the country where the crimes are committed but in their home country.

The Central African Republic is currently grappling with the aftermath of a brutal civil conflict that broke out in 2013 after a coup against then President Francois Bozize.

The UN mission was deployed in April 2014 to end the conflict, pitting the Seleka coalition of armed groups that toppled Bozize against militias supporting him.

MINUSCA maintains 15,000 personnel in the country with their main mission to protect civilians.

Sexual crimes allegations involving peacekeepers were reported previously and some contingents were withdrawn in the past, but no investigations have resulted in convictions to date, according to activists.

Since 2010, 822 such allegations have been posted on the UN website.

The peacekeepers with the most allegations against them since 2015 by country include Cameroon with 44 cases, South Africa with 37, the Democratic Republic of the Congo 32, Gabon 31, and the Republic of the Congo 26. -