More than 500 children are currently recruited into armed groups in Lubero territory, North Kivu.

Over 500 children are reportedly being recruited by armed groups in the Lubero territory of North Kivu, according to Jean-Pierre Kakule Kavaketi, who coordinates Solidarity for the Promotion of Development Actions (SOPROAD), a member organization of the local civil society’s child protection subgroup.

Kakule Kavaketi estimates that around 584 children are currently linked to armed groups operating in the area. Additionally, reports indicate that another 111 children have come together in specific villages to create their own militias.

He identifies several obstacles preventing children from disengaging from these armed groups: “The primary reasons these children find it difficult to leave armed forces and organizations are the lack of commitment from the leaders of these groups and insufficient concrete actions from child protection agencies and the members of the protection subgroup,” he explained.

To address this troubling situation, Kakule Kavaketi emphasizes the need for heightened awareness initiatives targeted at both group leaders and the children themselves. He also stresses the importance of engaging communities to disrupt the ongoing cycle of recruitment: “It is crucial to enhance awareness efforts among armed group leaders and the children, as well as to reinforce messaging within communities to effectively break this recruitment cycle. Strengthening these efforts could significantly decrease the number of children involved with armed groups,” he concluded.