More than a decade after the outbreak of civil war in the Central African Republic, around 10,000 children are still fighting alongside armed groups, the government announced on Monday.
Minister of Family and Gender Marte Kilima said in a statement that children continue to be recruited as fighters, spies, messengers, cooks and even used as sex slaves. He said 15,000 children have fled the rebels, many of them traumatized and finding it difficult to return to normal life.
The mineral-rich but impoverished country has been in conflict since 2013, when the mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power and forced then-president François Bozez to resign. Primarily Christian militias fought back, also targeting civilians.
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The United Nations, which operates a peacekeeping mission in the country, estimates that thousands of people have been killed and more than 1 million people, a fifth of the population, have been displaced by the fighting. A peace agreement was reached between the government and 14 armed groups in 2019, but fighting continues.
The Central African Republic reported that approximately 10,000 children remain fighting alongside armed groups in the country. (Fox News Digital)
The United Nations is working to prevent children from joining armed groups and facilitate their reintegration into society upon release. We created training programs to help them become mechanics, masons, carpenters, or other trades.
Some former child soldiers told The Associated Press that their harrowing experiences inspired them to become ambassadors for peace.
“I took up arms because the Seleka were killed by my mother and father,” said Arsene, who insisted on using only his first name due to the sensitivity of the situation. He said he was recruited by a Christian rebel group when he was 14 years old. After three years of fighting, he is now calling on young people not to join rebel groups.
Usman, also a former child soldier, said joining the rebel army had ruined his life and the lives of those around him. “What we did is indescribable,” he said.
A local civil society organization, the Danny Ngalasso Foundation, called on the government to accelerate the peace process to protect child soldiers.
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“They may have fought yesterday, but they can still campaign for peace today,” said Foundation Director Ngalasso.
