UN peace-keepers in fresh abuse scandal

The UN has ordered the withdrawal of Gabon's 450-strong peacekeeping contingent from the CAR over sexual abuse allegations. It said it has received 32 allegations of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation against troops from the neighbouring country. A report on the News24 site notes that Gabon's Defence Ministry acknowledged reports of ‘exceptionally serious acts that go against military ethics and the honour of the armed forces’. One of the world's poorest countries, the CAR has been chronically unstable since winning independence from France in 1960. It is still suffering the aftermath of a brutal civil conflict that erupted in 2013 after a coup against then President Francois Bozize.