250 child soldiers to be freed

2006-04-24 10:01

Malakal - About 250 children associated with an armed group in Khorfulus, Southern Sudan, would be released and demobilised on Monday, said the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).

Unicef welcomed the move, saying this latest demobilisation was the biggest of its kind since the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed in January last year.

The agreement committed the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the then government of Sudan to child demobilisation throughout the country.

Benjamin Goro Gimba, the executive director of the Southern Sudan Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration Commission, said: "We are determined to demobilise all child soldiers this year"

Unicef Sudan representative Ted Chaiban said: "It is time for these children to go home, go to school and enjoy the fruits of peace."

20 000 kids disarmed

The children being released on Monday were mainly from an armed group called "Mobile", which recently joined forces with the SPLA.

Those who lived nearby would immediately rejoin their families, while transport arrangement would be made for others to get home.

According to Unicef, about 20 000 children from the former southern rebel forces had been disarmed, demobilised and returned to their families with Unicef support since 2001.

It said: "However, about 2 000 children are still associated with the SPLA, mainly in non-combat roles and in hard-to-reach areas."

A significant minority was girls whose circumstances and needs often differed from those of boys and required special consideration.

It said: "In addition, there are an unknown number of under-18s in other armed groups in Southern Sudan."

Recruiting and using children under the age of 18 in armed conflict was contrary to international law to Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

- SAPA