Marthe Kirima, the Minister for Family and Gender in the Central African Republic (CAR), has expressed concerns over the continued recruitment of children into armed groups in the country. Kirima stated that children are being recruited for various roles, including fighters, spies, messengers, cooks, and even as sex slaves. While approximately 15,000 children have managed to escape from rebel forces, many of them face challenges in reintegrating into normal life due to trauma.
The United Nations, which has a peacekeeping mission in the CAR, estimates that the ongoing conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced over a million people, constituting one-fifth of the country’s population. Despite a peace deal reached in 2019 between the government and 14 armed groups, hostilities persist.
The UN is actively working to prevent the recruitment of children into armed groups and to facilitate the reintegration of those who have been released. Various training programs have been established to equip these children with skills, enabling them to pursue professions such as mechanics, masons, carpenters, or other vocations.
Efforts are underway to address the root causes of child recruitment and to provide support for the psychological and social reintegration of those affected. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Central African Republic in achieving lasting peace and stability, with the well-being of children caught in the midst of the conflict remaining a top priority for intervention and support.
