UNAMID welcomes Sudanese rebel movement's renewed order prohibiting child soldier recruitment

The United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) on Wednesday welcomed a renewed order by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) prohibiting recruitment of children as its fighters.

"The UNAMID welcomes the renewed Command Order issued by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) on Jan. 25, 2017, prohibiting the recruitment and use of children in its ranks, along with other violations against children," said the mission in a statement Wednesday.

"The order instructs all members of JEM to continue to fully adhere to the international and local laws governing the protection of children in armed conflict and not to recruit or use child soldiers, not to associate with children, or allow children to voluntarily join," it added.

Meanwhile, the UNAMID Acting Joint Special Representative Jeremiah Mamabolo said in the statement that "it is encouraging to see this latest commitment to the protection of children."

"The UNAMID will continue to engage with all parties to the conflict in Darfur about their responsibility to protect children and for an end to all forms of violations against children," he said.

On March 27, 2016, the Sudanese government and the UN signed a joint work plan for protection of children against violations at conflict zones.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), there are around 10,000 children associated with the Sudanese armed forces and armed groups, most of them in Darfur.

Sudan has been fighting the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector at South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since 2011. It has also been fighting armed groups in Darfur since 2003. Endit