Tombura-Yambio Diocese Handover Former Child Soldiers to DDR Commission

Abel Likambo Ungarani the State National DDR Commission and acting State Coordinator for Western Equatoria State said he is pleased to receive and witnessed the handover of the military attires from an underage former child soldier who came and met the Bishop of Tombura-Yambio Catholic Diocese Rt. Rev. Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala.

The former child soldiers had intentionally approached the church as a safer place that can host and shield him from the aggressive experience which was imposed on him when he was forced to become a soldier at the wrong time, something which is unconstitutional.

It is the responsibility of the National DDR Commission to work hard to make sure that there are no more children in the hand of the armed forces. The Commission looks forward to bringing back these children home and reuniting them with their family members.

Mr. Likambo expressed that the young boys are going to be taken to Child Transit Centre at the Ministry of Social Development and Child Welfare for counseling.

He added that DDR Commission in Western Equatoria State has been Disarming children and reintegrated them into different communities including uniting them with their families, some to the neighboring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. The majority of these former child soldiers were abducted by Lord Resistance Army (LRA).

Ms. Hossan Valent the human resource manager at the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio curia on behalf of the diocese administration welcomed the teenager home following his response to the United Nation’s call to the children who were recruited as child soldiers by the former rebels who were fighting the Government of President Salva Kiir in Western Equatoria State between 2015 and 2018, urging them to return home.

Ms. Valent said that it is the hope of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio that all

children recruited by the rebels to fight as child soldiers will all return home and that none will remain in the bush to continue fighting either on behalf of the government or various opposition forces in South Sudan.

Ngbanisa David Ariyo the Deputy Director of the Catholic Organization for Development and Peace [CODEP] said that most kids were taken by armed forces and turned into violent ruthless youth.

“When these children who have been subjected to extreme violence return home to us, it is now our responsibility as nurturing them into responsible citizens by helping them get rid of violence mentality. It is our responsibility to see how they can be trained on skillful activities that will enable them to become resourceful people in the society,” Ariyo said suggesting that the government should partner with other non-governmental organizations to fund such training.

Abraham Agit, a Sergeant Major belonging to South Sudan People’s Defence Force or SSPDF appreciated the effort of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio for supporting the efforts of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission to make sure that no child is being left to fight in any armed forces.

“South Sudan People’s Defence forces have to work hard to make sure children are not part of their ranks in Western Equatoria State and in South Sudan at large,” Agit said adding that through the support of DDRC they have worked and released all former child soldiers because it is unconstitutional to recruit children and be included on the list of soldiers.

The South Sudan Child Act 2008, Chapter two, subsection 31 says in regards to Child and Armed Conflict that the minimum age for conscription or voluntary recruitment into armed forces or groups shall be eighteen years. Secondly that the Government shall ensure that no child shall be used or recruited to engage in any Paramilitary activities, whether armed or un-armed, including, but not limited to work as sentries, informants, spies, cooks, in transport, as laborers, for sexual purposes, or any other forms of work that do not serve the interest of the child.

By, Elias Ginana Mangbondo