On Tuesday 17 April, more than 200 children were released by armed groups in South Sudan. It was the second such event – in a series supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that in the coming months will see almost 1,000 children released from the ranks of armed groups.

“I am so happy with the government and those who brought peace to Yambio because today my three children are going to be released to stay with me at home … I am grateful to UNICEF and also those who made it possible for the release of the children,” said an ecstatic mother, Joyce Michael.

The first release of children, witnessed by David Shearer, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), took place in Yambio Town in early February, where more than 300 children were released to return to their families, or to UNICEF-supported care centres.

“No child should ever have to pick up a weapon and fight” said Mahimbo Mdoe, UNICEF’s Representative in South Sudan, adding: “For every child released, today marks the start of a new life. UNICEF is proud to support these children as they return to their families and start to build a brighter future.”

The latest release of a further 207 children (95 girls and 112 boys) took place in a rural community called Bakiwiri in the Gbudue area, about an hour’s drive from Yambio, in the country’s Western Equatoria region.

The children were associated with the former South Sudan National Liberation Movement (SSNLM) – which in 2016 signed a peace agreement with the Government and is now integrating its ranks into the national army – and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO). A surge of fighting in July 2016 stalled the original plans to release children, but momentum is now building for more children to resume lives without guns. 

“UNICEF, UNMISS and government partners have negotiated tirelessly with parties to the conflict so as to enable the release of these children” said Mr. Mdoe. “But the work does not stop here. The reintegration process is a delicate one and we must now ensure the children have all the support they need to make a success of their lives,” he stressed.

Witnessed by their families, the ceremony started formally with disarmament, followed by provision of the clothes and some scholastic materials to the children.

Some of the children recounted the horrors associated with their kidnapping and life in the armed forces.

“They found us on the way when we were going to the garden. They killed my father and kidnapped us with my grandfather to the bush where I experienced hardship and torture because I could not cook and clean utensils well,” said a relieved Joan Richard, aged 16.

“They were using us to go and loot items to take to the bush, and I also witnessed terrible things, including killings and torture, which traumatized me. I am happy to come back home,” recounted Mathew Ezibon, 17.

As a part of the reintegration process, the children will go through medical screening and counseling in homes, and in the transit centres in Yambio. Their families will also be given food assistance for three months, to help them support the children in their initial reintegration.

Some children will join their colleagues in vocational training centres to be equipped with skills to improve their livelihoods, while others will join regular schools around Yambio.

Daniel Badagbu, the Governor of Gbudue, said after the release of the children, the question that remained was how to support them to return to and stay in school, in addition to finding the necessary resources for their reintegration, and providing them with vocational training.

“The Government and the people of Gbudue state have brought the peace, but the question is how to consolidate the peace. And how to get support for the children to keep them in the vocations [sic] and schools [so that they do] not to go back to the bush. I am calling upon partners to support us to consolidate this peace,” said Governor Badagbu, who received assurances for support from the diplomatic community, UN agencies, and international organizations.

According to UNICEF, there are still around 19,000 children serving in the ranks of the armed groups in South Sudan.

The UN urges all parties to the conflict to end the recruitment of children, and release all children in the ranks of all armed forces because children are not soldiers.