UN peacekeeper child abuse scandal: Tony Banbury cries as he reveals new allegations

The UN’s assistant secretary-general was overcome by emotion as he revealed new allegations of sexual abuse by peacekeeping troops from five African and Asian countries

A senior United Nations official has named five African and Asian countries whose troops are accused of sexually exploiting children in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Tony Banbury, the assistant secretary general in charge of field support, struggled to contain his emotions as he said that UN peacekeepers from five national armies had been implicated. The alleged abusers were from Bangladesh, Morocco, Niger, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Separate allegations have also been made against French and Georgian troops serving in the CAR as part of a European Union force.

“I think it’s hard to imagine the outrage that the people working for the United Nations and for the causes of peace and security feel when these kinds of allegations come to light. Particularly involving minors, it’s so hard to understand” said Mr Banbury.

He added that the abuse had allegedly been carried out by 10 soldiers from these five countries. Congo and Niger failed to investigate the accusations against their troops, so the UN has been compelled to launch its own inquiry.

Separately, Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that his office was investigating the alleged sexual abuse of four girls by EU troops deployed in the CAR in 2014. Three of the girls said their attackers were from the Georgian army; a fourth accused French soldiers.

The cases involved children offering sexual favours in return for food and water in the M’Poko camp for displaced people next to the airport in the CAR’s capital, Bangui.

“I am heartened at the initial responses we have received from the countries concerned, as well as from the European Union, which show they take these terrible allegations very seriously,” said Mr Al-Hussein. “Far too many of these crimes continue to go unpunished, with the perpetrators enjoying full impunity. This simply encourages further violations. States have an obligation to investigate, prosecute and ensure that the victims receive the redress to which they are entitled.”