UN Special Envoy deplores recruitment of children into armed ranks in South Sudan

The UN Special Representative for Children and armed conflict, Leila Zerrougui says she is frustrated by the continued recruitment of children into armed ranks in South Sudan. UN Children’s agency, UNICEF says the number of children used in armed conflict since the start of the conflict in 2013 stands at 17-thousand. Special representative Zerrougui is worried the continued fighting will see more children recruited into the ranks of fighting forces. In an exclusive interview with Radio Miraya, Zerrougui urged both government and opposition forces to live up to their commitment of ending child recruitment, and said there is no future for South Sudan if children continue to be targeted and recruited instead of going to school.