Four French soldiers were questioned on Tuesday over allegations of child rape in the Central African Republic, AFP reports.
The investigation in Paris is looking at 14 soldiers involvement in the allegations of sexual abuse of a group of children in CAR's capital Bangui between December 2013 and June 2014. The children, some as young as nine, said the soldiers abused them in exchange for food.
The allegations first surfaced after a UN report leaked, sparking accusations of a cover-up.
This is not the first time that allegations of sexual abuse have been made against UN peacekeeping soldiers.
Sri Lankan troops were expelled from Haiti for sexually abusing children in 2007, with 111 soldiers and 3 officers were repatriated back to Sri Lanka after being part of UN mission in Haiti and were accused of a string of sexual assaults, including rape of children as young as 7 years old. No prosecutions or punishments have taken place.
No mercy for soldiers found guilty of abuse says French president (30 April 2015)
ICP questions UN on impunity for SL peacekeepers (18 September 2013)
Haitian sexual abuse troops remain unpunished (11 January 2012)
Rs 18 billion paid to Sri Lanka for UN peace keeping missions (09 July 2012)
Haitian lawyers condemn impunity for Sri Lankan soldiers (11 September 2011)
Child rape impunity no bar to UN peacekeeping deal with Sri Lanka (27 May 2011)
Sri Lanka forces fire into Haitian civilians (25 November 2009)
UN confirms sex charges against Sri Lankan troops in Haiti child abuse (09 April 2008)
Rape by Sri Lankan troops resurfaces – in Haiti (07 November 2007)