Seven children released from armed forces reunited with families in South Sudan
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Eye Radio
Seven children separated from the armed forces have been released and reunited with their families in Western Equatoria State, South Sudan. They are undergoing vocational training in Tindoka to support their reintegration, while officials from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan report that child recruitment and insecurity persist in several parts of the state.
Seven children released from the armed forces have been reunited with their families in Western Equatoria State, South Sudan, according to a post by the Office of the State Caretaker Governor. The announcement was made during a meeting of the Child Protection Technical Committee in Yambio.
The children are undergoing vocational training in Tindoka to facilitate their reintegration, said Rita Bampoo, a child protection officer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). She nevertheless reported that child recruitment continues in some areas and called for increased efforts to release those reportedly associated with armed groups, including the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO).
Dennis Bambura, also a child protection officer with UNMISS, reported cases of recruitment in Tambura, Yambio and Nagero counties. He said insecurity and reported ambushes on roads in Tambura and the eastern corridor had disrupted awareness-raising activities in the state's ten counties.
Caretaker Governor Badagbu Daniel Rimbasa confirmed that the seven children had been released since the committee's previous meeting and pledged his administration's support for their protection and reintegration. Rita Bampoo also cited a lack of funding and logistical resources as an obstacle to monitoring and awareness-raising, particularly in remote areas.
