Two female soldiers from South Africa deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were sent back home after becoming pregnant during their mission.
The incident has reignited discussions on the broader issue of sexual conduct and discipline within peacekeeping missions in conflict zones.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has previously been linked to allegations of sexual misconduct in the DRC. In October 2023, eight SANDF personnel were recalled following accusations of sexual exploitation and abuse. Reports indicated that they had violated curfew and visited a bar associated with transactional relationships.
The United Nations (UN) took action by repatriating those involved and launching investigations into the matter.
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The issue of maintaining discipline among peacekeeping troops is not exclusive to South Africa. Across the globe, peacekeeping missions have faced recurring challenges related to sexual misconduct. The UN enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy and has established various measures to prevent and address such violations, yet incidents continue to emerge, highlighting the difficulties of regulating conduct in complex and unstable environments.
In addressing these challenges, legal cases have also set important precedents regarding the rights of female soldiers.
A significant ruling came in 2018 when the Lesotho High Court opposed the dismissal of female soldiers due to pregnancy, affirming their sexual and reproductive rights. This decision underscored the need to protect women’s rights within military institutions, even when policies attempt to penalize them for life circumstances.
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