Food-for-sex scandal: UN bars 16 Beninese soldiers from future peacekeeping operations

By Peter Onwubuariri

Sixteen Beninese peacekeepers were repatriated to Benin and barred from serving in UN peacekeeping operations following their complicity in sexual misconduct involving local girls in Cote d' Ivoire, a UN spokesman said.

The report of the allegation was first published by whistle blowing website Wikileaks, citing a U.S. Embassy cable released in January 2010.

According to the cable a random poll of 10 underage girls in Toulepleu, a western town in Cote d Ivoire, by aid group Save The Children U.K. in 2009 found that they performed sexual acts for Benin peacekeepers on a regular basis in order to secure food.

Eduardo Del Buey, the UN deputy spokesperson, confirmed to reporters in New York on Thursday that, in January 2011, the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) provided its report on the joint investigation finding into the incident.  

He said the UN Department for Field Support (DFS) reviewed the findings and recommendations contained in the OIOS report and, in April 2011, requested the Beninese authorities to take disciplinary action against six identified individuals soldiers.

The UN also recommended that disciplinary action be taken against 10 successive former commanders and senior officers for failure to maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and abuse.  

Del Buey said DFS further informed the Beninese authorities that all individuals identified repatriated on disciplinary grounds and would also be barred from participating in future peacekeeping operations.

He did not confirm whether the Beninese authorities followed through on the UN request.

The UN Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers in recent years had been a major source of concern.

In April this year, a report by UN's Departments of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and DFS, found that sexual abuse within UN Peacekeeping Operations seem to be on the decline.

According to figures released in the report during the first quarter of 2011 the DPKO reported a total of 15 allegations, of which four of them concerned minors.

In comparison, during the same period last year there were 24 allegations, 10 of which involved minors. (NAN)