Seven African countries have 40% of the world’s child soldiers, says UN
- On 12 February, the world commemorated Red Hand Day.
- It’s the annual reaffirmation to stop the use of child soldiers.
- In 2021, more than 6 310 children were recruited and used in conflict areas.
Half of the 14 countries that recruited children into armed conflict are in Africa.
In addition, the continent is home to 40% of the world’s child soldier population, estimated to be 250 000, according to the United Nations (UN).
And rising conflicts across the continent are pushing more children into vulnerability as they are not only turned into soldiers, but sex slaves and helpers too.
“The recruitment and use of children in conflict areas remain one of the highest verified violations against children.
“According to the Annual Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to the UN General Assembly, in 2021, more than 6 310 children (5 707 boys, 603 girls) were recruited and used by parties to conflict.
“And this number is expected to have climbed higher in the face of escalating and new crises since,” said the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.
On Sunday, the world marked Red Hand Day, the annual reaffirmation to stop the use of child soldiers.
The commemoration came as Nigeria and Burkina Faso agreed to stop holding minors associated with armed organisations in military detention and, instead, to promote their reintegration into society.
Anti-child soldier lobbyists this year rekindled their demands that no child under the age of 18 may be used or trained in armies, armed groups or other military units.
They also want care, protection, political asylum, expansion of financial support for aid programmes for child soldiers, and the promotion of peace education.
From child soldier to top engineer
Sudan and South Sudan are two of Africa’s most affected countries by the child soldier crisis, despite the exact numbers being unknown because the crime is not reported by the perpetrators and poor birth registration makes age verification difficult.
However, there have been cases of successful reintegration of child soldiers into society.
Benjamin Mawel is a former child soldier who, since 2011, has been the owner of one of South Sudan’s leading engineering companies, Liberty Engineering and Construction.
He took time to share his journey from being a child soldier to a respectable member of society at a function to commemorate Red Hand Day in South Sudan.
“I am a former child soldier, I will not say I was recruited because I volunteered to be one of the soldiers,” he said.
The year was 1982 and he was 11 years old, growing up in a region of South Sudan that, he said, was like “the wild, wild west”; three soldiers decided to leave the army and form a local militia group, which he joined.
He said: Read more from original source
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