UNICEF says up to 6,000 child soldiers fighting in Central African Republic

UNICEF says up to 6,000 child soldiers fighting in Central African Republic
By Euronews
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button
ADVERTISEMENT

The number of child soldiers in war-ravaged Central African Republic has swelled to around 6,000, says UNICEF.

The revelation comes as France and the United Nations warn the crisis – which escalated when rebels ousted the president in March – could lead to genocide.

Some 400,000 people have fled their homes since the uprising and the tit-for-tat killings that followed.

UNICEF, the U.N.‘s children’s agency, communities had set up self-defence groups to halt abuses, leading to a spike in the number of children involved.

“It has increased a lot. We can estimate this number at between 5,000 (and) 6,000 … with the armed groups,” Souleymane Diabate, UNICEF’s resident representative in Central African Republic, told a briefing in Geneva.

Share this articleComments

You might also like

Middle East Forum Israel: 'Guterres wants Israel to lose, but he will fail'

'Unimaginable' situation in Gaza hospital: Aid groups

UN Security Council calls for Sudan ceasefire over Ramadan