89 Boys as Young as 13 Reportedly Kidnapped in South Sudan
Armed soldiers abducted at least 89 boys, some as young as 13, from a community near Malakal in South Sudan, UNICEF said Saturday.
According to the organization, unidentified gunmen surrounded the town of Wau Shilluk and went from house to house searching for boys older than 12, presumably to be used as child soldiers.
The children were reportedly kidnapped while "doing their exams." UNICEF says the actual number of abductees could be much greater than 89.
Since South Sudan's civil war began over a year ago, the use of child soldiers by both government and rebel forces has been pervasive. According to the BBC, the United Nations has previously estimated that 11,000 children are currently serving in the country's armies.
On Saturday, a UNICEF representative condemned the violation of international law, saying, "The recruitment and use of children by armed forces destroys families and communities. Children are exposed to incomprehensible levels of violence, they lose their families and their chance to go to school."
