French
prosecutors are investigating allegations that French soldiers sexually abused
children during a peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic last year.
France’s Defence
Ministry said witness accounts collected by United Nations agencies allege
members of French forces abused roughly 10 children over a six
month month period in 2014.
The alleged
abuse took place at the airport outside the capital city of Bangui, where
French forces have their headquarters, according to the Guardian newspaper who
first reported the story.
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| A French soldier speaks with a man in Central African Republic |
The
allegations raise questions about French military deployments in Africa,
where France is playing the role of regional police officer, partly because
of its colonial history in much of Africa, including Central African Republic where political instability and religious violence have rocked the country.
French
troops are also helping fight the terrorist group Boko Haram along the Nigerian border, guarding cities from Al Qaida rebels
in Mali and helping maintain the peace in Ivory Coast.