Eritrea/Ethiopia: UN mission sets up board of inquiry on misconduct allegations

The head of the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) has established a Board of Inquiry to investigate allegations of serious misconduct by members of the peacekeeping operation.

In a statement issued today, UNMEE said the new body, composed of senior UN military and civilian staff, would also investigate any incidents that had not been previously reported.

According to allegations published in the Italian press on 24 August, a former peacekeeper was being investigated in Italy by a military prosecutor on accusations of having had sex with underage girls while serving in the Mission area. These allegations were never previously reported to the UN operation.

The Board of Inquiry is expected to present its findings to UNMEE chief Legwaila Joseph Legwaila on 19 September.