An internal United Nations inquiry has identified 25 peacekeepers from Burundi and 16 from Gabon accused of sexual abuse and exploitation in the Central African Republic in 2014 and 2015, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Monday. "Responsibility for further investigations lies with Burundi and Gabon," Dujarric said, adding that the UN had asked those states to interview the identified troops, who all left Central African Republic before the allegations surfaced. Central African Republic, which holds reserves of uranium, gold and diamonds, suffered the biggest crisis in its half-century of independence in early 2013 when Seleka toppled then-President Francois Bozize. The 41 troops from Gabon and Burundi were identified by 45 possible victims in Central African Republic's Kemo prefecture, Dujarric told reporters. The inquiry found another eight victims described distinctive traits of peacekeepers accused of abuse, but could not identify them through photos or corroborating evidence.

Source: The Star December 05, 2016 17:58 UTC