French peacekeepers open inquiry into sex abuse in Ivory Coast News
French peacekeepers open inquiry into sex abuse in Ivory Coast

[JURIST] The French peacekeeping force in Ivory Coast has opened an investigation into allegations that four of its soldiers sexually abused a young girl in the rebel-controlled north. These are the first allegations of sexual abuse to be made against French forces since they were deployed in the country shortly after a civil war began in September 2002 [overview]. The allegations have fuelled growing anti-French sentiments in Ivory Coast, where last November French forces crippled Ivory Coast's small air force [JURIST report] after nine French peacekeepers were killed in a bombing raid. Reuters has more.