French authorities upgrade investigation into whether soldiers raped Central African children
PARIS (AP) _ French authorities have opened a formal judicial inquiry into alleged sexual abuse of children by French troops in the Central African Republic.
The move hands the investigation to independent judges instead of the Paris prosecutor’s office, in an acknowledgment of the seriousness and complexity of the accusations, amid international dismay surrounding the case.
After the French Defence Ministry was informed of the rape accusations last summer, the Paris prosecutor opened a preliminary investigation. The case was made public only last week, more than nine months later, following a report in The Guardian.
French authorities decided Thursday to upgrade the investigation to a judicial inquiry led by independent magistrates, the prosecutor’s office said.
The troops accused of abuses were sent to Central African Republic to protect civilians from sectarian violence.
Photo : www.dw.de.com
Alwin Marshall-Squire is the Editor-in-Chief of S-Q Publications Inc., overseeing editorial strategy for GTA Weekly, GTA Today, and Vision Newspaper. He leads the publications’ mission to deliver bold, original journalism focused on the people and communities of the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and the global Caribbean diaspora.
Also writes for GTA Weekly and GTA Today.
