NIGERIA TO REPATRIATE CIVPOL CONTINGENT FOLLOWING

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 001501 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2015 TAGS: PGOV KPKO PREL PHUM CG NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA TO REPATRIATE CIVPOL CONTINGENT FOLLOWING SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS REF: KINSHASA 1484 Classified By: Poloff Gons Nachman for Reasons 1.4 B and D ¶1. (U) The Nigerian Government has decided to repatriate its entire Civilian Police (CivPol) unit from MONUC following sexual abuse allegations which are the subject of an ongoing UN investigation, according to a September 15 statement from the spokesman for the UN Secretary General. The statement recognizes Nigeria's "outstanding contributions" to UN peacekeeping operations and it refers to the GON's shared commitment with the UN to a policy of "zero-tolerance regarding sexual exploitation and abuse and any other forms of misconduct" by peacekeepers. ¶2. (C) According to an assistant to the Special Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG),the board of inquiry reviewing findings of sexual misconduct has found preliminary grounds for disciplinary action in 10 of the 11 cases under review. The Nigerian government has decided to repatriate the entire 120-man CivPol unit based in Kinshasa. The assistant to the SRSG said the unit remains in Kinshasa pending final arrangements to transport them back to Nigeria. MEECE