Articles published Wednesday, October 16, in The New Humanitarian and Le Monde by Barbara Debout make demonstrably false allegations of rape and sexual violence by Rwandan peacekeepers serving in the Central African Republic, the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) noted in a statement.
ALSO READ: Rwandan troops are dependable, brave - UN Force Commander in CAR
The RDF explained that the three cases mentioned in the article could not have taken place due to three reasons.
First, as noted, in the alleged case of rape of "Jeanne” a fruit and vegetable seller who the article says was raped by a Rwandan peacekeeper in their Bangui base in 2023, Rwandan peacekeeper bases in CAR do not admit unregistered civilians with no official business in the facility, therefore no assault of a civilian could have occurred in the base.
"In the alleged case of rape of ‘twenty-eight-year-old Grace’, in the northern town of Paoua: no Rwandan peacekeepers have ever been deployed in that area, therefore the accusation has no basis,” the RDF statement noted.
ALSO READ: Rwanda-CAR cooperation fruitful, says President Touadéra
In the alleged case of rape of "two women in Ndassima” 400 kilometres from Bangui, the RDF explained, there have never been Rwandan bilateral forces or Rwandan MINUSCA forces deployed in that area, therefore the assaults could not have taken place.
The statement adds: "Sexual violence against civilians by peacekeepers is unacceptable and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) takes every accusation against its troops seriously. By the author’s own account of comments from displaced civilians in Bria, sexual assaults that had been occurring previously stopped when Rwandan troops were deployed in the area.”
"The discipline, reputation and effectiveness of Rwandan peacekeepers is not in question. For 20 years now, Rwandan peacekeepers have carried out their missions with integrity and respect for local communities, in adherence to core values of civilian protection and the responsibility to protect (R2P).”
The RDF noted that it will continue to support peace and stability in the Central African Republic and wherever else Rwandan peacekeepers are deployed.