CEPO Director Edmund Yakani | Photo: File/ Office of the President

Civil society leader Edmund Yakani has warned against the recruitment and deployment of children in armed conflict as fighting continues in parts of the country.

Yakani, who is also head of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO), expressed deep concern over the resumption of active military confrontations involving the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, the SPLA-IO, and other armed groups.

Speaking to Eye Radio, Yakani said CEPO’s national early warning system has detected fresh recruitment activities, raising fears that children may be involved.

He stressed that recruiting anyone below the age of 18 is illegal and violates national, regional, and international laws on child protection.

Yakani also said the practice goes against the National Comprehensive Action Plan signed by President Salva Kiir, in which the government committed to ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers.

“Recently, we have seen fresh recruitment of soldiers and want to bring to your attention that recruiting a person below the age of 18 who is known as a child is forbidden and it is a violation of all legal frameworks for protection of children in terms of national framework, regional or international that our governments have committed themselves to.

“At the same time, it’s a violation of the national comprehensive action plan that the country has agreed before the international community that you will never recruit a child to be a soldier among your fighting force in your military confrontation among yourselves. This is a serious note that I want to bring to attention,” he said.

He warned that CEPO is monitoring recruitment and deployment across the country and will document all violations.

“We’ll document and share with reliable sources and one day we will use that information to hold you accountable as a field commander or commander in charge of that recruitment and deployment,” he said.

Yakani also cautioned armed groups against occupying schools or using them as military barracks or stores, saying this denies children their right to education.

He further warned commanders not to involve children in military activities, including using them as porters, cooks, cleaners, or for any form of labour around military bases.