OVER 16,000 child soldiers have been recruited since civil war began in South Sudan – UNICEF

UNICEF estimates that 16,000 child soldiers have been recruited since civil war began in 2013 and is now urging for their unconditional release.

“When you drive across these rural roads you see child soldiers. And all the different groups are recruiting, there is a mobilization going on in some of these remote areas to get people into these armed groups because people feel the violence will escalate and they are taking advantage of that to recruit these very young people, said UNICEF executive director, Justin Forsyth.

Separately, according to an internal UN memo obtained by Associated Press, the government of South Sudan has been recruiting child soldiers to prepare for a renewed conflict.

The document indicates that a senior politician appointed by president Salva Kiir led the recruitment of boys in a village by using intimidation with some being as young as 12 years old.

However, military spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang, said youth who join the military are not forced and said he was not aware of the recent recruitment of child soldiers.

Civil war in the world’s youngest nation began in December 2013 and tens of thousands have been killed with more than 2 million people being displaced.

News Agencies