Hundreds of children have been recruited to become child soldiers both by force and choice. This problem involves the children being recruited, the armies taking and training the children, and the government. Now that current technology has made weapons lighter and easier to use, more and more children are capable enough to use them. These armies are fighting in many different wars. Among these, the most prominent is one that was once a civil war in Sudan, but is now a war between Sudan and South Sudan. Children have been allowed or taken into the army both in past and present conflicts throughout the world. This has probably caused even more conflict in current wars, as the present has different morals. This is mainly happening in Africa. The children have been recruited primarily in Sudan and several other African countries involved in major conflict. This is happening because children are a valuable resource. They are small, easily manipulated, and highly expendable.
Child Soldier Recruitment
Most child soldiers have been forced to become involved in many African conflicts. "In 1995 the Revolutionary United Front has been raiding villages to capture children into its ranks and force them to witness or take part in the torture and execution of their own relatives" (Children as Soldiers). The children were war hardened by enduring the pain of loss; having nothing left and no family to go back to, the children had no choice but to enter the army and contribute to the conflict. In an investigation of the child soldiers problem, an article by Lizzy Dearden states that, "boys as young as 12 were seized from the community of Wau Shilluk in Upper Nile State." The kids were taken from their homes or schools and forced into the army, which emphasizes the fact that the children did not want to join. Additional investigations on this problem revealed that "rebel fighters took him (Stephen) and more than 100 of his classmates. They were given no choice. They were now the latest young recruits in South Sudan's bloody civil war" (Burridge). Like the article said, the boys were forced to become involved in the war. Similar investigations had the same results, saying that, "forces aligned with the government and opposition have abducted or coerced hundreds of children into their ranks" (Schlein). Already self explanatory, this article shows that the children were forced to become soldiers. In addition to that, "forced recruitment continues unabated.Hundreds of boys were abducted by government troops in the village of Wau Shilluk" (Patinkin). Due to the fact that the abductions are still taking place without any sign of slowing, it is safe to say that the government is not doing much to prevent them. Children have been taken, abused, and used as expendable resources in many wars, due to their value. The recruitment of child soldiers is clearly a problem, and forcing them to become involved involved in current conflicts is even worse.
This is my map
Click here to see bibliography.