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France Arrests 2 Soldiers Accused of Sexual Abuse in Burkina Faso France Arrests 2 Soldiers Accused of Sexual Abuse in Burkina Faso
(about 3 hours later)
LONDON — Two French soldiers accused of sexually abusing two young girls in Burkina Faso have been repatriated to France and arrested, French prosecutors said on Thursday.LONDON — Two French soldiers accused of sexually abusing two young girls in Burkina Faso have been repatriated to France and arrested, French prosecutors said on Thursday.
Agnès Thibault-Lecuivre, a spokeswoman for the Paris prosecutor’s office, confirmed the arrests and said an investigation was underway. She said that the two victims, ages 3 and 5, are dual citizens of France and Burkina Faso.Agnès Thibault-Lecuivre, a spokeswoman for the Paris prosecutor’s office, confirmed the arrests and said an investigation was underway. She said that the two victims, ages 3 and 5, are dual citizens of France and Burkina Faso.
Ms. Thibault-Lecuivre said by telephone that the two men, ages 36 and 38, were suspected of having sexually abused the girls in a pool at a hotel in Ouagadougou, the capital.Ms. Thibault-Lecuivre said by telephone that the two men, ages 36 and 38, were suspected of having sexually abused the girls in a pool at a hotel in Ouagadougou, the capital.
Le Monde reported that the concerns about abuse came to light after the mother of the victims found video footage on a camera that one of the soldiers had left behind.Le Monde reported that the concerns about abuse came to light after the mother of the victims found video footage on a camera that one of the soldiers had left behind.
The French Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that it had suspended the two soldiers, who were deployed to the West African country as part of a counterterrorism mission.The French Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that it had suspended the two soldiers, who were deployed to the West African country as part of a counterterrorism mission.
The case is the second involving accusations of sexual misconduct by French soldiers in recent months.The case is the second involving accusations of sexual misconduct by French soldiers in recent months.
In April, The Guardian reported that a group of children from the Central African Republic had been sexually abused at a center for displaced people in Bangui, the capital, between December 2013 and June 2014.In April, The Guardian reported that a group of children from the Central African Republic had been sexually abused at a center for displaced people in Bangui, the capital, between December 2013 and June 2014.
Citing a leaked report by the United Nations and victims’ testimony, the newspaper reported that a group of boys, some of whom were orphans and as young as 9, said they had been raped and sodomized by French troops, in some cases in return for food. Citing a leaked report by the United Nations and victims’ testimony, the newspaper reported that a group of boys, some of whom were orphans and as young as 9, said they had been raped and sodomized by French troops, in some cases in return for food. The soldiers were there as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission.
French prosecutors have ordered a criminal investigation, and 14 soldiers are under investigation.French prosecutors have ordered a criminal investigation, and 14 soldiers are under investigation.
Although the French authorities were accused of responding too slowly to the child abuse accusations in the Central African Republic, the response in Burkina Faso appears to have been swift.Although the French authorities were accused of responding too slowly to the child abuse accusations in the Central African Republic, the response in Burkina Faso appears to have been swift.