(New York Times) – At least four senior United Nations officials warned of the risks of sending soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo on a peacekeeping mission to the neighboring Central African Republic when the idea arose in 2014. The soldiers had a history of using rape on the battlefield, the officials said. Within months of the soldiers’ arrival, allegations of sexual abuse began piling up against several of them. At least one United Nations official urged that the 800-member battalion be sent home swiftly. But even after a decision was made early this year to do so, the troops were kept on for another six weeks.
