13,000 former child soldiers in the Central African Republic pin their hopes on Brussels conference

World Vision is urging global leaders meeting in Brussels tomorrow (Thursday, 17 November 2016) to secure the future of thousands of children forced to take up arms on behalf of militia in the Central Africa Republic (CAR).

Government leaders, European Union representatives, NGOs and donors will meet in Brussels to discuss reconstruction in CAR over a landmark summit. During this meeting, World Vision hopes authorities and delegates will establish commitments to help restore peace and security; and revive CAR’s economy.

Moussa Sangara, World Vision CAR’s Response Director, said: “Violence has scarred a generation of children. They have witnessed and committed crimes that no child should be exposed to.

“This conference is pivotal to the future of children and their families in CAR. We need leaders to commit to social and economic action that will bring about real change. And we need children, communities and faith leaders to be a part of this as, ultimately, they will be the ones who can make peace a reality,” Sangara, who is in the Belgian capital to attend the conference, explained.

He added: “The former child soldiers I work with are desperate for an end to the violence. Over 1,400 former child soldiers in our ‘Peace Clubs’ have turned their lives around. They’ve rejected violence in favor of peace, and they are telling their friends and families to do the same.”

Conflict erupted in Central African Republic in 2013, when the mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power triggering revenge attacks by Christian militias. Over 13,000 children have been conscripted by various militia since then; and all will be hoping that the Brussels meeting will bring an end to the fighting once and for all.

Children like Francis* who was recruited into one of the several militia groups in CAR, are pinning their hopes on the Brussels talks. Francis said: “I joined the militia after my brother was killed. I didn’t want his death to go unpunished.”

At the age of 13 he joined a local armed group, and by 14 he had killed five people: four children and 1 adult. “I used a knife,” he explains. Francis was able to escape the armed group. Alone and afraid, he finally found his way back into his community with help of international children’s charity, World Vision. Francis later received psychological counseling and educational support from the charity.

*Names have been changed to protect identities

Contact: Carina Wint | Media Specialist | Mobile +44 (0)7471216 013| 

E-mail: carina.wint@worldvision.org.uk |