In a letter addressed to the international community, COSCIPAC, spokesperson for Central African civil society, calls for the “immediate and unconditional” departure of Valentine Rugwabiza, UN Special Representative in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Head of MINUSCA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR). Civil society also demands the rapid withdrawal of Rwandan special forces present in the Central African territory and calls for a review of MINUSCA’s approach, to adapt it to local realities, in order to best serve the interests of the country.
COSCIPAC urges the UN Secretary General to take responsibility before the situation “gets worse”, warning him that he will be held responsible in the event of misfortunes affecting the Central African population. This civil society initiative comes on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly dedicated to security. It aims to draw international attention to the crisis in the Central African Republic and to challenge UN officials about the urgency of the situation. Recently, the departure of the UN mission in the Central African Republic, MINUSCA in general, and its head Valentine Rugwabiza was agitated by the media and even on social networks. A questioning of the effectiveness of MINUSCA with regard to acts of rape in the Central African Republic.
Recently, “Le monde” and “The new humanitarian” also published a joint investigation into the rapes of Central African women by MINUSCA employees. Nineteen Central African women testified to sexual abuse committed by peacekeepers. Notably, it was the Rwandan contingent that received the most accusations of sexual assault. In addition, the fact is denounced that, faced with these allegations, MINUSCA refused a request for a meeting between the media and the head of the mission, the Rwandan Valentine Rugwabiza. Indeed, MINUSCA has already been accused of sexual exploitation and abuse on numerous occasions. Moreover, during the ten years of deployment, the peacekeepers were found guilty of numerous other crimes, such as the plundering of the country’s natural resources and collaboration with militants of illegal armed groups. What future for Valentine Rugwabiza just a stone’s throw from the review of her mandate at the head of the UN mission? Will she continue the work already started in the face of this criticized situation? The latest developments will edify us…
Senegal
