UN mission welcomes release of children recruited by armed group in DR Congo
16 August 2013 – The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has welcomed the release of 82 children from the Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga armed group through the joint efforts of aid agencies working in the country.
It is a great shame that arrests don't seem to have occurred in this case. There are few crime more repulsive than this.
The children – 69 boys and 13 girls between the ages of 8 and 17 – had reportedly been recruited during the past six months by elements of Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga, according to a news release issued by the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO).
The children – 69 boys and 13 girls between the ages of 8 and 17 – had reportedly been recruited during the past six months by elements of Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga, according to a news release issued by the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO).
Recruited ? I think the term is kidnapped. The MONUSCU press release.
They were identified and separated through concerted efforts by child protection agencies working together in Kibwela, Moba Territory, and Kayumba, Manono Territory – all in Katanga province. About half of the children were immediately reunited with their families, while the others are receiving interim care pending reunification.
“We are extremely concerned by continued reports of active recruitment by Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga and other armed groups in eastern DRC,” said Martin Kobler, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of MONUSCO.
Kinshasa, 16 August 2013 – The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) welcomes the separation, on 11 and 15 August 2013, of 82 children, including 13 girls, from Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga armed group. The children, aged between 8 and 17 years old, were identified and separated through concerted efforts of child protection agencies working together in Kibwela, Moba Territory, and Kayumba, Manono Territory all in Katanga Province. They had reportedly been recruited during the past six months by elements of Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga. Forty of those children were immediately reunited with their families, while the remaining are receiving interim care pending reunification
They were identified and separated through concerted efforts by child protection agencies working together in Kibwela, Moba Territory, and Kayumba, Manono Territory – all in Katanga province. About half of the children were immediately reunited with their families, while the others are receiving interim care pending reunification.
“We are extremely concerned by continued reports of active recruitment by Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga and other armed groups in eastern DRC,” said Martin Kobler, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of MONUSCO.
A few arrests would certainly lend a bit of credibility to the UN's concern.
“Children face unacceptable risks when they are recruited for military purposes,” he noted. “The recruitment of children, particularly those under 15 years of age, could constitute a war crime and those responsible must be held to account.”
“Children face unacceptable risks when they are recruited for military purposes,” he noted. “The recruitment of children, particularly those under 15 years of age, could constitute a war crime and those responsible must be held to account.”
Actually I would go further than a war crime it should be classified as a crime against humanity and punished accordingly.
The mission stated that, since the beginning of the year, 163 children have been separated from Mayi Mayi Bakata Katanga by MONUSCO and child protection partners.
And there will be more if there is no retribution. The UN needs to really get its act together fast in the Eastern DR Congo. It has bought with the Intervention Brigade ( Africa Brigade ) some time and through the Brigade has a much improved capability.
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