Sudan Opposition Transfers Youths to UN Mission
On Monday, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition handed seventeen youths to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in Malakal, ending weeks of uncertainty for families in the capital, Juba.
SPLM-IO commanders say the group, some as young as fifteen, escaped forced enlistment into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces after a June security sweep in the city’s Shirkat suburb (Standard Zone News).
Escape from Forced Conscription
Eyewitnesses recount that security personnel chartered a military aircraft that ferried the detainees north, where they allegedly underwent hurried basic training at Gel-achel camp in Baliet County under SSPDF supervision.
Several youths told local mediators they were arrested on suspicion of gang affiliation following a highly publicised rape case but were never formally charged.
UNMISS Takes Custody in Malakal
UNMISS spokesperson Linda Tom confirms the mission will facilitate voluntary repatriation, medical screenings, and psychosocial support, noting that “the protection of children remains non-negotiable under national and international law.”
Peacekeepers are expected to fly the group back to Juba within days, in coordination with state authorities and humanitarian partners.
Legal and Ethical Concerns over Child Soldiers
South Sudan ratified the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict in 2012, prohibiting recruitment under eighteen, yet analysts say intermittent violations persist across divided command structures.
The Defence Ministry has not commented on the latest claims, though previous communiqués stress a “zero-tolerance policy” toward child recruitment.
Families in Juba Await Return
Relatives in Shirkat told Radio Miraya they welcome the handover but seek formal accountability for those behind the roundup to prevent further disappearances.
Community leaders urge authorities to intensify disarmament drives and expand vocational programmes that can absorb idle youth susceptible to coercion.
Regional Implications for Disarmament Efforts
Observers argue the episode underscores challenges facing the Revitalized Peace Agreement, particularly the integration of rival forces ahead of the 2024 elections.
The African Union’s envoy, Ismail Wais, recently called for renewed funding for cantonment sites, warning that “unresolved security arrangements will reverberate beyond South Sudan’s borders.”