Sexual Exploitation Abuse in Peace Ops focus of AFRICOM Rule of Law event

South African Lt. Gen. Derrick Mgwebi, Force Commander, MONUSCO, delivers the keynote address at the Accountability Colloquium, the first to be conducted in Africa. Nearly 50 military and civilian legal professionals and troop commanders from 24 African countries participated in the event, which was coordinated by U.S. AFRICOM in cooperation with the International Institute of Humanitarian Law. Senegal volunteered to host this year’s colloquium and participants were welcomed by Contre-amiral Momar Diagne, head of the Senegalese Navy. This was the fifth such event sponsored by U.S. AFRICOM’s Office of Legal Counsel, Legal Engagements Division. This year, AC V continued the effort to address the challenge of establishing the rule of law by expanding the discussion from AC IV to include identifying responsibilities and best practices of commanders and legal advisors in preventing and responding to SEA in peace operations. (Photo by Brenda Law, U.S. AFRICOM Public Affairs/RELEASED)