South Sudanese Crisis Child Soldiers

South Sudanese Crisis: Child Soldiers South Sudan is a substantial country in Africa that has been ravaged by civil war since 2013 (CFR “Civil War in South Sudan”). Sudan, formally independent as South Sudan in 2011, has been in a state of turmoil since 1955. This strife has led to numerous human rights violations that have occurred, including the recruitment and use of child soldiers. The long-standing conflict “rooted in deep cultural, ethnic, and religious differences” has killed copious amounts of the Sudanese people (Gale Ellicott). The lack of able-bodied adult fighters from continual war is what compels the use of child soldiers. The three main parties involved, Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army …show more content…
The critical state that has taken hold of South Sudan has caused organizations to intervene in an attempt to improve the state of South Sudan. One such organization is UNICEF, which “oversaw the release of 1,775 former child soldiers” (UNICEF “A Generation Made to Fight: Saving South Sudan's Child Soldiers”). These organizations’ efforts are working as they facilitate the release of many child soldiers. Organizations like this are a necessary part to the solution to eliminate the use of child soldiers since only outsiders can fight this issue. The UN included “child protection provisions in the peace agreement signed in August, but [they] yielded few results” (U.N. “South Sudan”). This exemplifies how outsiders are necessary if the child soldier crisis in South Sudan is to be mitigated. This need for outsiders makes the organizations’ involvement so vital to resolving this …show more content…
“A peace agreement was signed in August, but fighting continued, with mass displacement of civilians and severe repercussions on children” (U.N. “South Sudan”). The warfare is what demands a solution if the use of child soldiers is to be ended. The fighting is the true host of child soldiers and is the core problem that needs to be addressed. Without a war the use of child soldiers would no longer be necessary in South Sudan. This has been recognized as the U.N.’s mission in South Sudan is to strengthen “the capacity of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to govern effectively and democratically and establish good relations with its neighbours” (U.N. “United Nations Mission in the Sudan”). In order to eradicate the use of child soldiers in South Sudan, an international power capable of overpowering both groups in conflict must interfere, in this case the U.N. The war provides the incentive for child soldiers; therefore, it must be resolved to mitigate the use of children in war. Once the war ceases, there will be no need for child soldiers, thus eliminating the