France suspends adoptions of children from Central African Republic

France has suspended adoptions of children from the Central African Republic, saying the ongoing violence and instability could jeopardise the children’s welfare.

France has suspended adoptions of children from the Central African Republic © RFI/Carine Frenk

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday the “best interest” of the children and the adopting families may not be respected.

“The current climate in this country, the violence, absence of a state, means the conditions are not right for adoptions in the future,” said ministry spokesman Romain Nadal.

Sixty-six Central African Republic children were adopted by French families in 2013, up from 42 in 2012.

“Until now they took place in relatively good conditions. But the collapse of government and the widespread violence no longer allows this,” Nadal added.

The temporary suspension will only apply to new adoption applications, and current applications will be processed as normal.

In December last year, Congo suspended international adoptions of Congolese children following allegations of trafficking.

Mali halted overseas adoptions in October 2013 and Russia and China have sharply curtailed them.