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Women and girls raped in Makeni

    ABIDJAN

    Revolutionary United Front (RUF) fighters have been raping women and girls in its stronghold of Makeni and at least three other northern towns, the executive director of the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday.

    "Our research has uncovered a disturbing number of cases of rape by RUF fighters in the town of Makeni and other areas under their control," Peter Takirambudde said.

    The rights group interviewed women from Makeni, Port Loko, Lunsar and the Yelibuya Peninsula who gave detailed accounts of rape, including gang rape and the abuse of children as young as 10. In many cases they were taken to rebel bases or command centres and raped, suggesting that this is sanctioned behaviour, HRW said.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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