Jamaican News

French authorities offer full co operation to Central African Republic

By Sylvie Corbet

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A French peacekeeping soldier patrols a street of the capital Bangui

PARIS (AP)_ The French president’s office says judicial authorities in France and Central African Republic are co-operating to investigate allegations of child sexual abuse by French soldiers.

Following a meeting Wednesday in Paris between French President Francois Hollande and Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza, a French official said they are aiming at “shedding full light on this affair.” The official wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on this matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

French prosecutors are investigating accusations that soldiers deployed in the African country in 2013-14 to quell sectarian violence had sexually abused children.

A document recently obtained by The Associated Press shows that top U.N. human rights officials knew about the allegations for months but didn’t follow up, even as France pressed the U.N. for more information.

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