UNMISS partners with South Sudan organised forces to remove children from armed ranks

More than 100 children associated with armed conflict will be released today in Yambio, Gbudue state. 

The 48 girls and 71 boys were demobilized after an assessment and verification conducted by UN Children’s Agency - UNICEF, the Child Protection Unit of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and the National Disarmament, Demobilization and Rehabilitation Commission.

Chief of the UNMISS Child Protection Unit, Alfred Orono Orono says the children have been delisted from the South Sudan National Liberation Movement (SSNLM), the SPLA-IO of Riek Machar and mark the last batch of children identified for this phase of demobilisation. 

The release coincides with the International Day Against the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, commemorated on 12 February since 2002, to raise awareness on the harmful effects of the use of children in armed conflict.

Meanwhile, the Director of moral authority in the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, Maj Gen Ajak Biar is sounding a strong warning against the recruitment or involvement of children in armed conflict. 

Maj Gen Biar and Orono Orono spoke to Radio Miraya’s Sebit William.