Niger body urges independent probe into ‘rapes’ by Chadian troops

Rights body seeks inquiry after allegations troops deployed to fight armed groups raped women, as well as girl, 11.

Niger’s human rights commission has called for an independent inquiry following alleged rapes, including that of an 11-year old girl, by Chadian soldiers deployed in the country to help fight armed groups. The commission’s preliminary findings, published on Friday and based on testimonies and medical examinations between March 31 and April 1, were that two other women were raped. The women, including one who is pregnant, were raped in the presence of their husbands who were held at gunpoint by the soldiers, according to the commission’s report.