The Central Africa Republic will take legal action against
the French soldiers accused of raping children in exchange for food at a refugee
camp, the country’s justice minister has said.
“Legal action will be pursued… These are still very serious
acts,” said Justice Minister Aristide Sokambi on Wednesday, insisting his
nation was not targeting France but individual soldiers., Al Jazeera reports.
Several children
the youngest just nine allege that 14 soldiers dispatched to the impoverished
nation as part of the peacekeeping force sexually abused some of them in
exchange for food between December 2013 and June 2014.
“We regret the fact we were brought into these
investigations despite the cooperation agreements we have with France, “Sokambi
added.
“So I have instructed the public prosecutors to open a probe
and seek the evidence already at the disposal of the French.”
French troops were deployed to Central Africa Republic in
December 2013 to help African Union peacekeepers restore order after a bout of sectarian violence triggered by a
coup.
Hundreds of troops were stationed at Bangui’s M’Poko
airport, which was transformed into giant refugee camp.
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