Sex abuse scandal shakes French army in Central African Republic

Amid a devastating scandal surrounding the sexual abuse of starving children by French soldiers on peacekeeping duties in the Central African Republic (CAR), France took late action after keeping an internal U.N. report secret for more than one year, despite being aware of the allegations in July last year. France, which serves as a defender of human rights in its ex-African colonies, is now being hit severely by the rape allegations.

Only after Britain's Guardian newspaper released the U.N. report on Wednesday, the case of the rape of boys by French troops drew intense criticism from French authorities. French President François Hollande said anyone found guilt would be shown "no mercy." "If this information is confirmed ... the punishment will be proportionate to the deeds. If they are serious, the punishment will be harsh," the French president told reporters during a public engagement in western France.

The U.N's expert report on sexual exploitation and abuse by U.N. peacekeeping personnel states that 16 soldiers were involved in the abuse of at least 10 boys between eight and 15 years old in exchange for food, which took place between December 2013 and June 2014 right after the French military intervention begun in the conflict-ridden country. The office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the country's capital, Bangui, carried out a probe in Spring 2014, prompted by "serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse of children by French military personnel," according to a statement released by the U.N. Secretary-General.
The most striking point of the internal U.N. report released on Nov. 3, 2013, is that U.N. peacekeepers are depicted as being part of "hyper-masculine atmosphere that does not include gender sensitivity and/or the assumption of equality of man and woman." The report also states that the dress of local woman and the idea of racial superiority over the local population led the peacekeepers to consider the local woman as "loose" and "deficient."

The U.N. peacekeeping mission known as the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSCA) came into effect in September 2014. Ahead of the general election that takes place in August, the U.N peacekeeping mission's role has turned away from military intervention to diplomatic efforts "to support the national authorities to ensure the timely and secure conduct of the elections as a matter of urgency."

Around 1,700 French military personnel are currently deployed as part of the Sangaris operation, alongside 9,500 MINUSCA personnel. The Sangaris operation, launched on Dec. 5, 2013 by French President François Hollande, aims to restore a minimum level of security in the country and provide support for the progressive build-up of the U.N. mission. From April 9 to April 15, the Sangaris force provided support to domestic security forces in an operation aimed at putting greater pressure on those setting up roadblocks between Sibut and Bangui, a situation update by the French Defense Ministry on April 16 stated.

The French ex-colony, which has long been paralyzed by ongoing violence, welcomed the French military intervention in the country. Amid growing insecurity, the U.N. took over a peacekeeping mission in CAR, a former French colony previously run by the African Union, in an effort to protect civilians from rebel attacks.
The French military operation in the country commenced in 2013 to beef up a U.N.-backed military operation after violent clashes between Christian fighters backing deposed president Francois Bozize and Muslim militia supporting the government of President Michel Djotodia erupted in the capital city of Bangui. Since then, a joint operation by France and the African Union, authorized by the U.N. Security Council, has been taking place with the aim of restoring peace in the country. The U.N. peacekeepers moved there in August to help the 2,000 French troops who had previously struggled to stabilize the area.

Despite the presence of some 8,000 U.N. and 2,000 French peacekeepers in CAR, the ongoing chaos has led to the widespread killing of Muslims. Those who have survived have been placed in camps where there is no way out. After the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power early in 2013, CAR has been in a state of crisis. Since then, sectarian violence has been escalating in central and eastern parts of the country, as the anti-Balaka, Christian militia forces started to launch attacks against the Seleka.