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A high-level investigation team set up by the African Union Commission on Friday revealed their findings on alleged abuses within the commission.
The team issued a report including a 7-point list of malpractices within the Pan African body's commission.
"Following allegations of harassment against women leveled through an anonymous letter, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission instituted a High-Level Committee (HLC) on 24 May 2018 to fully investigate all these allegations," read the report.
Daesh claimed responsibility for five attacks in an area it calls the "State of West Africa" that it said resulted in 118 casualties in the past week, according to a video posted on its account on the messaging website Telegram late on Thursday.The militant group, which typically uses the "State of West Africa" to refer to Nigeria, made the claim in a video presentation of attacks it says it carried out between Nov. 16 and 22. It did not specify the number of people killed in the attacks, referring only to 118 casualties.Five security sources told Reuters more than 100 soldiers had been killed in attacks in Nigeria in recent days, one of the highest death tolls since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in 2015. It could raise pressure on him ahead of an election in February since he has claimed victory over the nine-year insurgency.Eight killed in attack on Foraco well site in NigerThe sources said the insurgents attacked a military base in the village of Metele in northeastern Borno state, the epicentre of a revolt by Boko Haram and splinter group Daesh in West Africa.Daesh, in a statement released on Monday, said it attacked an army base on Sunday in Metele and killed at least 40 Nigerian soldiers. The group said it burned down the base after the attack finished.A Nigerian presidency spokesman on Thursday said the military would issue a statement and military spokesmen did not respond to requests for comment. The government and military often decline to acknowledge the scale of losses in the northeast. Nigerian opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar seeks to boost oil investments
Daesh claims attacks in West Africa caused 118 casualties
According to the report, the chairperson of the commission also entrusted the HLC with a mandate to investigate all alleged institutional malpractices within the commission on March 15, 2017.
The aim of the investigation was to independently establish the facts in the light of the commitment he made to staff on assumption of duty to ensure good internal governance throughout the entire commission.
Accordingly, the team identified malpractices in Human Resource functions, cases of harassment, bullying and intimidation, governance challenges, gender discrimination, fraud and corruption, impunity and sexual harassment.
This is the first scandal openly exposed within the African Union Commission in recent years.