Rebel Group frees 250 child soldiers

onnaedo

March 23, 2015 4:39 PM

The freed child soldiers includes a 9-year old girl.

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Cobra Faction, a rebel group in South Sudan has freed 250 of its child soldiers, Al Jazeera reports.

According to UNICEF, in the next 2 days, another 400 child soldiers out a total of 3,000 in the hold of the rebel group, will also be released under a deal with the government.

The scourge of child recruitment is, however, far from over in South Sudan, with about 12,000 youngsters still fighting in the ranks of the country's warring factions.

Civil war broke out in the country in December 2013, after President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy, rebel leader Riek Machar, of attempting a coup.

Since then, tens of thousands of people have been killed and 2 million have been forced to flee their homes. Another 4 million people face starvation.

At a ceremony on Saturday in eastern Jonglei state, the released children's weapons and uniforms were exchanged for civilian clothes and they were taken to a centre to be given food, shelter and medical care.

UNICEF and partners will also begin the process of tracing their families and where necessary providing psychosocial support.

onnaedo