Shocking image brings child recruitment debate to the forefront once again
Recently, a photo documenting the presence of a young boy amongst the Sudanese Army’s militias, during the recent battles that took place in Kordofan, has sparked controversy on social media in Sudan over the Sudanese Armed Forces’ responsibility in regards to recruiting children and violating International Law.
Videos broadcast by Sudanese media showed the boy, aged (under 15), alongside other children who participated in the battles and were captured by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the recent battle of Umm Qaoud, (20 kilometers) west of El-Obeid, North Kordofan state.
Furthermore, a shocking photo of an injured child from the recent clashes in Kordofan was circulated. His features clearly indicate he is under the age of (16 years old), nevertheless, he is part of the battalions allied with the Sudanese Army.
Naturally, a heated debate has erupted on social media regarding the involvement of such a young boy in the war. Some held his parents responsible for allowing him to participate in this massacre, while others held the Sudanese Army and the authorities responsible for allowing it.
The aforementioned photo and other circulating videos have brought back to the forefront the controversy surrounding the recruitment of children into the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) -supported by its allied militias- against the Rapid Support Forces.
In June 2024, the United Nations included the Sudanese Army on its blacklist for violating children’s rights in conflicts and wars. The annual report of UN Secretary-General António Guterres showed a (480%) increase in the number of grave violations against children in Sudan (between 2022 and 2023). The Sudanese Army was also included on the annual global list of perpetrators of violations against children, alongside Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The report -at the time- investigated six grave violations: killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, recruitment and utilization, denial of aid, and attacks on schools as well as hospitals.
