article_snippet.sent: Investigation has been underway since last year but was only made public yesterday.
article_snippet.sent: French defence ministry has vehemently denied covering up the scandal following revelations the scandal was made aware of the allegations in July last year when the scandal received a leaked UN report on the subject.
article_snippet.sent: French defence ministry said French defence ministry immediately launched a probe into the case when French defence ministry received the news, sending investigators to the former French colony on August 1.
article_snippet.sent: A defence ministry spokesman urged 'great caution' because the accusations have not yet been proven, adding: 'There is no desire to hide anything. '
article_snippet.sent: We are not hiding the facts, We are trying to verify the facts.'
article_snippet.sent: A UN spokesman confirmed  investigators had conducted a probe last year following 'serious allegations' of child abuse and sexual exploitation by French troops.
highlights_snippet.sent: Investigation was started last year but was only made public yesterday .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: French defence ministry has denied covering up the scandal .