Eleven peacekeepers serving with the United Nations in the Central African Republic are facing allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse. The accusations, currently under investigation by the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services, involve members of a Tanzanian unit stationed in the western region of the country. Preliminary findings suggest that four victims are involved in the alleged misconduct.

The UN's Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) responded swiftly to the allegations, deploying a rapid intervention team to assess the situation and interview the alleged victims. The implicated unit has been relocated to a different base and confined to barracks pending the outcome of the investigation. This action aims to protect the victims and maintain the integrity of the investigation. MINUSCA is working with partner organizations to provide medical, psychosocial, and protective support to the victims.

Beyond the immediate allegations, the incident has raised concerns about command and control within the unit. The UN has stated that the entire 60-member unit will be repatriated once the investigation concludes. While unconfirmed, there are indications that some of the victims may be minors.

The Central African Republic, a nation rich in mineral resources but plagued by poverty, has been embroiled in intercommunal conflict since 2013. This conflict began when the predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power, ousting President Francois Bozize. The ensuing violence between largely Christian militias and the Seleka rebels resulted in widespread casualties and displacement, particularly impacting the Muslim population of the capital city. A UN peacekeeping mission was established in 2014 and currently consists of nearly 17,500 personnel. The mission's mandate was recently renewed for another year in November.

This is not the first time the UN has faced scrutiny over allegations of sexual misconduct by its peacekeepers. Similar accusations have arisen in the Central African Republic and neighboring Congo in the past. In 2021, Secretary-General António Guterres ordered the immediate return of a Gabonese contingent from the Central African Republic following credible reports of sexual abuse.