The United Nations says it has requested a joint investigation with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) into recent allegations against troops serving in the peacekeeping mission in the DRC, but has yet to receive a formal response.
The UN announced on Tuesday five new allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation against South Africa troops, bringing to nine the total number being investigated in 2018.
A statement from the SANDF has expressed consternation at suggestions it was not co-operating with the UN, arguing that its investigators were already on the ground in the country.
The UN says national SANDF investigators, who have jurisdiction over the conduct of their troops deployed in UN missions, is on the ground and cooperation with the peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO.
Earlier the reports said the UN had in the past requested to do joint-investigations with the South Africans on similar allegations through its Office of Internal Oversight Services but that those requests has been rebuffed.
The UN also expressed a view that they did not expect that position to change regarding the latest allegations.
The SANDF has described as “disturbing and disconcerting” some media reports that it was not cooperating with the UN in such matters.
The UN has since clarified that while cooperation continues, they have yet to receive an official response on their requests for a joint-investigation.
Under deployment rules, troop-contributing countries are responsible for investigations and prosecuting soldiers accused of criminality.
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