Response: Rape charges hang over U.N. peacekeepers in Africa

This is a response to the story published in USA Today. The article can be read here: Rape charges hang over U.N. peacekeepers in Africa. While I have been unable to post as much as I would like, I feel this topic is of great importance and attention should be brought to it immediately.

A crime against humanity has been committed. It would be a sin for me to not speak on this topic, especially when it involves my African family. Make no mistake that ALL atrocities on humans are reprehensible, but when it happens to a group that is vulnerable, that on its own is the ultimate disgrace. As if it weren't challenging enough for the people of Central African Republic Africa, who labor to maintain the basics of living, while also dealing with the plague that is civil unrest. The tale of civil strife is one that has filled modern history books of African countries. Many innocent people, a majority of whom are vulnerable, have lost their lives to  unnecessary battles. In the midst of all this, they now have another set of problems to worry about. The people that were supposed to help them are killing and raping them. I have to acknowledge that the evidence, so far, has been anecdotal, but I can't think of a scenario where fabricating stories would be of benefit to the victims. So far, there are multiple people that have come forward with these claims of rape and killings, forcing France to pull troops from the country. This is an outrage and speaks to the repeated exploitation of African countries.

The UN will forgo their investigation, action or inaction will be taken against the perpetrators, the troops will leave, and life will continue. But in Central African Republic, there will still be strife, families will still be missing their loved ones, the victims still living with the memory of being raped. These vulnerable people will still remain. It is a story that I'm getting tired of hearing. But this isn't about me. This is the reality many people live, and we need to do better to protect these people. Better oversight and management needs to be implemented when foreign aid is employed. Most of all, we as Africans need to be at the forefront of these issues. This repeated tale of helplessness and strife needs to end. I blame us for this. When will African governments rise to help its people? When will they stop stretching their hands out, begging for foreign aid? It's not to boast that I say this, but to drive a point home; I have said numerous times, Africa will not overcome the poverty, inequality, exploitation of vulnerable people through foreign aid. African governments need to collaborate and be more vigilant in protecting its people. NO ONE will uphold the best interest of Africans like Africans. We must do better. We must work harder to protect the vulnerable, so things like this never happen.

"The true testament of one's character is what they do when no one is watching. Even greater than this  is how they treat those who are in need and have no way of returning the favor."

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