200 child soldiers separated from armed groups in Congo

200 child soldiers separated from armed groups in Congo

UN official appeals to militia leaders to release remaining children in detention

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - At least 200 child soldiers have been separated from armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the beginning of this year, the UN mission in the country said Wednesday.

The children were removed from different armed groups operating in the eastern part of Congo such as Cooperative for the Development of Congo and Chini ya Kilima - FPIC militia groups, the child protection section of the UN Mission in Congo, MONUSCO said.

Some children separated from the armed groups with the support of MONUSCO had been abducted by force while others had reportedly joined voluntarily due to economic hardships.

Jean Muzama, the head of the child protection section at MONUSCO called on the leaders of the armed groups to “engage in the peace process and release the rest of the children under their detention so that they can return to civilian life.”

It is difficult to estimate the number of child soldiers in the volatile eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the UN and child activists.

The Congolese government has devised a draft plan for demobilization, disarmament, and reintegration of children from armed groups. The plan provides for the establishment of listening clubs for children, and spaces for friends of children, or transitional families that can serve as reception centers for the children.

About 2,253 children were separated from armed groups in the country in 2018, 3,107 in 2019, 2,101 in 2020, and 957 in the first nine months of 2021, according to the child protection section of the UN.

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