According to internal documents of the MONUSCO peacekeeping mission, seen by AFP, the eight peacekeepers deployed in Beni, eastern DR Congo, were arrested on October 1 and an officer suspended a week later in connection with alleged sexual exploitation and violence.

All belong to the South African contingent of the UN force, and may be involved in what internal reports describe as a “systematic widespread violation” of UN rules.

“The Office of Internal Oversight Services has been apprised and precautionary measures have already been taken in accordance with the UN Secretary-General's zero-tolerance policy," MONUSCO said in a statement late Wednesday.

The measures taken “include the suspension, detention and confinement of the peacekeepers concerned”, the UN force said, adding that it “strongly condemns such behaviour, which is unworthy of UN personnel”.

“Bars and brothels named Soweto, Bloemfontein and Cape Town,” after South African towns, have sprung up near the MONUSCO base at Mavivi, near Beni, according to one of the documents.

According to a preliminary report, the officer in question “intimidated and verbally threatened UN personnel” following the arrest of the peacekeepers.

Since May, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has been calling on SADC (Southern African Development Community) countries, including South Africa, to deploy in the country in support of the Congolese army in the face of the M23 rebels, who have seized large swathes of North Kivu province.

The DRC government has also been calling for an “accelerated” departure of the UN force from December, accusing it of having failed to put an end to violence by armed groups during its 25-year presence. (AFP)

•PHOTO:File photo: United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) peacekeepers in North Kivu in the DRC, March 29, 2022. © Djaffar Sabiti, Reuters