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'No charges' for French troops over child sex claims in Africa

Investigating judges have found no evidence to warrant further investigation into claims of abuse in the Central African Republic, the BBC says.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

Six French soldiers accused of sexually abusing children in the Central African Republic (CAR) have not been charged following a criminal inquiry, reports the BBC.

Investigating judges found no evidence to warrant further investigation, the prosecutor's office in Paris confirmed to the BBC.

The assaults allegedly took place at a camp for displaced people near the airport in the capital Bangui.

French soldiers were sent to CAR after the outbreak of the civil war in 2013.

The assaults allegedly took place between December 2013 and June 2014.

The prosecutor's office make the final decision over the charges, but its decision is expected to reflect the finding of the judges,

There is however a three-month window for interested parties to demand fresh investigations.

The UN whistleblower who exposed the allegations in 2015 condemned what he called the "complete impunity" of the perpetrators, and criticised the UN for failing to properly investigate.

Read more of this report from the BBC.