South Africa has recalled eight of its soldiers from the MONUSCO peacekeeping mission in Beni, North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo following allegations of sexual exploitation.
MONUSCO confirmed last week that the eight soldiers had been provisionally suspended to pave way for investigations after the troops had abrogated the mission’s regulations.
According to the UN report, eight South African Army (SAND) soldiers, deployed in Beni, in the North Kivu province, were apprehended by the United Nations Military Police (UN MP) on Sunday October 1, 2023.
They were accused of violating curfew and other regulations relating to sexual exploitation and abuse.
Meanwhile, the South African Army (SAND) have expressed concern over the manner in which MONUSCO handled the matter involving its soldiers.
SAND have stressed that MONUSCO did not follow the due procedure in its reporting of the case.
