African Union to take action after probing rape claims against Amisom troops

The African Union (AU) has said it will investigate claims that its troops are sexually abusing women in Somalia.

In a statement Tuesday, the AU said it was concerned about the report by a human rights group on the conduct of the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) troops.

“These allegations will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate measures will be taken if they are found to be true, through the relevant mechanisms that have been developed by the AU to prevent and respond to issues of misconduct and abuse in peace support operations, in accordance with the AU’s zero-tolerance policy on this matter,” read a statement posted on Amisom's website.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released on September 8, 2014, accused the joint forces of sexually abusing and exploiting vulnerable Somali women and girls on their bases in Mogadishu.

COERCIVE TACTICS

In the 71-page report titled The Power These Men Have Over Us: Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by African Union Forces in Somalia, HRW claims the AU personnel have used a range of tactics, including humanitarian aid, to coerce vulnerable women and girls into sexual activity.

“They have also raped or otherwise sexually assaulted women who were seeking medical assistance or water at Amisom bases,” the report states.

The abuses are alleged to have been going on since 2013.

“Human Rights Watch interviewed 21 women and girls who described being raped or sexually exploited by Ugandan or Burundian military personnel serving with the AU forces,” the report said.

In a statement Tuesday, AU said the allegations “do not define the character, organisational culture and management” of Amisom.

'DISCREPANCIES' CITED

AU pointed out discrepancies in the report, saying HRW used a small number of cases to arrive at a generalised conclusion.

“The HRW report claims that it has documented 21 alleged cases of sexual exploitation and rape. It further states that a single soldier carried out most of these acts.

"The generalisation contained in the report does not reflect the highest professional standards with which the overwhelming majority of Amisom uniformed personnel have continued to discharge their responsibilities,” AU said.

AU accused HRW of making "sweeping general assertions about Amisom" and also stating — in the report — that its research did not exhaustively interrogate the scale and prevalence of these allegations.

The AU said it has internal mechanisms to prevent misconduct and abuse in any of its peace operations, saying it disciplines personnel who commit these acts.