Use of African Children as Soldiers Condemned

Nairobi, Feb 10 (Prensa Latina) Armies and rebel groupsin Africa use children under 13 years of age for militarypurposes, as reported by sources defending the human rights ofchildren in this continent, before the International Day forSoldier Children.

Africa is one of the continents of the world mostaffected by this issue, since nearly 250,000 children areforced to fight and kill in conflict scenarios.

In that context, the United Nations Children Fund wantsto give children a priority, because of the violent wave inplaces like Cote dB4 Ivoirie, where the political crisis putschildrens survival in danger.

In Darfur, west of Sudan, the situation is complex andthe armed bands recruit children by force, and childrencaptured by groups operating in the border zone with Chad arealso added.

A special case arises in relation to those who join theLord Resistance Army, which carries out the worst atrocitiesin central Africa. (Prensa Latina)