Six cases of sexual abuse in the Central African Republic. EUFOR RCA and Sangaris implicated by the UN

(B2) The case of sexual violence in the Central African Republic has just found a new episode. Ihe Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has just published its investigation report on the events that took place in 2014. They implicate the soldiers of the international forces (European and French ) deployed in the Central African Republic: Georgians from the EUFOR RCA stabilization operation, as well as another unconfirmed nationality (1), and French soldiers from Sangaris. Both located on the Bangui airport site, a stone's throw from the M'Poko refugee camp.

Known cases

These are not in themselves new cases (as the commissioner's office says) but confirmation - through victims' testimonies - of facts already sampled. Our article published last April which revealed the questioning also of members of EUFOR RCA testifies to this (read : Suspicions of sexual abuse in the Central African Republic: Georgians from the EUFOR RCA mission implicated?).

Facts about sometimes very young minors

But these facts are serious according to the testimonies collected. We are talking about rape of sexual practices with young girls and young boys, minors, sometimes very young (from 7 to 14 years old) (2). These six allegations took place around or inside the M’Poko IDP camp, located near the airport in the capital, Bangui” confirm the'UN. It should be noted that these are, for the moment, presumptions, based solely on testimonies from children or adolescents, but which seem sufficiently precise to be taken seriously.

Georgian personnel (EUFOR Rca) clearly implicated

According to the press release issued by the United Nations: Four of these girls indicated that their attackers belonged to contingents operating within the European Union force (EUFOR/RCA). Two of the girls interviewed said they were raped by EUFOR soldiers and the other two girls said they were paid to have sex with other EUFOR soldiers. Although the nationality of some of the soldiers is unclear, three of the girls said they believed their attackers were part of the Georgian contingent of EUFOR. These four girls were aged between 14 and 16 at the time of the alleged events »

« UN human rights staff also interviewed a girl and a boy aged 7 and 9 respectively when they were allegedly abused in 2014 by members of the French Sangaris troops. The girl said she performed oral sex acts on French soldiers in exchange for a bottle of water and a bag of biscuits. She said, as did her nine-year-old brother, that other children had been similarly abused in repeated incidents involving several French soldiers. »

Extremely serious charges

For the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights, These charges are extremely serious and it is crucial that these cases are investigated thoroughly and urgently. “Investigations have already been carried out on the French side, on the Georgian side and on the European side. “I am encouraged by the initial responses received from the countries concerned and from the European Union; they show that they take these terrible allegations very seriously. »

Do not let these crimes go unpunished

But he also added that " far too many of these crimes go unpunished, with their perpetrators enjoying total impunity. It simply encourages the commission of other violations. » and to remind « As more and more cases emerge, involving more and more national contingents, it is clear that all foreign military forces, whether UN or not, must carry out much more robust and effective actions to prevent other abuses and cases of exploitation, and not only in the CAR. "" States have an obligation to investigate, prosecute perpetrators and ensure that victims receive the reparations to which they are entitled. »

Zero tolerance policy on the EU side...

On the European side, we reacted very quickly. " The European Union take these allegations very seriously” indicated the spokesperson for the High Representative of the EU. We follow a " zero tolerance policy "on what is called" sexual misconduct or criminal activity ». The European diplomatic service is also examining " any information relating to EUFOR RCA which may be relevant » in liaison with the Member States because they are the ones who are primarily responsible.

State responsibility in the end

As the EU points out, the responsibility for any investigation, disciplinary or criminal action remains with the States” contributing to the mission. The European Union - like any State taking part in a military mission or operation in a third country - takes great care to sign an agreement with the authorities of the country concerned, which has the status of an international convention, making it possible to exempt from any criminal liability on the territory where the facts are committed the agents and soldiers engaged on the ground. This does not mean total exemption. The acts can be prosecuted in the State of origin (read our analysis on the agreement concluded in CAR: EUFOR status of force agreement with CAR. Details).

To soil the flag is to betray

On the French side, we have not yet officially reacted to this new indictment. But we remember the very harsh remarks made by the French Minister of Defense, Jean-Yves Le Drian against this type of facts. " If the facts are proven, I will not measure my anger, because when the French soldier is on a mission, he is France. If by chance only one of them has committed such acts, that he denounces himself immediately – he said in an interview given to the Journal du dimanche, at the beginning of May 2015. “ If someone has soiled the flag, because that is what it is, he must say so now, because that amounts to betraying his comrades, the image of France and the mission of the armies »

Justice, seized, must take its course

The Minister of Defense also assured immediately forwarded the report to the court as soon as he became aware of the facts, at the end of July 2014, which is very early before the facts took on the media coverage that we know. An investigation complicated by the remoteness of the facts in time and place, the departure of the soldiers involved from the theater, and the absence of formal elements allowing the precise identification of certain perpetrators... But, according to the sources of B2, it is estimated that the military institution has done its job, it is up to justice to do its job now.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

(1) According to our data, it could either be simply French people placed under EUFOR RCA command, or Estonians who were among the first to arrive on the spot.

(2) We cannot speak of prostitution even if there appears to have been consented intercourse in exchange for money or goods, the age of the presumed victims not allowing any agreement on their part to prevail.