The UN has requested the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to repatriate its peacekeepers serving in the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), announced UN Secretary General Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric on 8 January 2016.
The 925-strong Congolese battalion (807 troops and 118 police) went through two evaluations by UN peacekeeping officials which established that Congolese peacekeepers “only partially” satisfied UN requirements “in terms of equipment, vetting and preparedness” added Dujarric. The battalion will be repatriated without replacement.
While failure to meet UN requirements is cited as the main reason behind the decision, allegations of Congolese troops involvement in rapes and other human rights abuse while serving in CAR might be the actual cause.