AU forms team to probe Amisom force rape claims

KDF bomb suspected Alshabab position within Fafadun township in Somalia. (Photo:File/Standard)

The African Union has authorised an investigation into allegations the continental force on a peacekeeping mission in Somalia is perpetrating sexual abuses.

Commission of the African Union (AU) chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma authorised the deployment of an investigation team to probe allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse levelled against personnel of the AU Mission in Somalia (Amisom) by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Kenya is among the African nations that have deployed military personnel to Somalia to help the interim government fight Al-Shabaab.

The HRW report dubbed The Power these Men Have Over Us – Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by African Union Forces in Somalia will form the basis of investigations, an Amisom communique dated September, 8 2014 revealed.

The investigation team consists of four people including two women and are said to be from Ghana, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

They have the required training, qualifications, expertise and experience at regional and international levels.

The team will investigate specific allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse made against Amisom personnel, particularly the Ugandan and Burundian contingents as well as Amisom civilian personnel.

"The investigations will also seek to establish, if they occurred, the duration that such actions have been taking place and the actions taken by the Amisom leadership that either contributed to or deterred the alleged actions from occurring," the communique read in part.

"The chairperson requests the full cooperation of all relevant parties to these investigations, including unfettered access to all persons and sites that will facilitate the conduct of these investigations," AU said.

Zuma said AU is committed to reinforce its efforts to combat sexual exploitation especially its impact on victims, survivors and their families.

"The chairperson has constituted an assessment team consisting of academics and women activists with special expertise on protection of victims of sexual violence and law enforcement," AU said.

The union said the assessment team will seek to determine the extent, nature, patterns and trends of sexual exploitation in Amisom.

This is expected to inform and guide its policy and response mechanisms not only for Amisom but for all its Peace Support Operations.

The teams are expected to complete their assignments by November 30.