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Testimonies of former child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2020

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Abstract

In this issue, the Review has chosen to give a voice to former child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Children recruited by armed groups experience separation from their families, physical and psychological violence, sometimes including sexual exploitation, as well as interruption of their education. Whether they joined an armed group forcibly or by choice, as a fighter or carrying out a different function – every story is unique, reflecting numerous challenges faced by children in these circumstances. The testimonies below reflect children's experiences, the difficulties they have faced and their hopes for a new life. In order to protect them and their relatives, their testimonies have been anonymized.

Type
Voices and perspectives
Information
International Review of the Red Cross , Volume 101 , Issue 911: Children and war , August 2019 , pp. 445 - 457
Copyright
Copyright © icrc 2020

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Footnotes

Thanks to the ICRC Delegation in Kinshasa and especially its Protection and Communication Departments for their assistance in collecting these testimonies.

References

1 Gris-gris are charms believed to protect the fighters.

2 The transit and orientation centre for former child soldiers is run by the Bureau for Volunteer Services for Children and Health.

3 At a Tshiota, a ceremonial fire at which fetishes and potions are distributed.

4 It is likely in this context that the FARDC were looking for certain arbitrary signs, such as tattoos, that would indicate the children were “different”, and therefore (in the FARDC's eyes) associated with the militia. The militias in the Kasais used a lot of amulets, necklaces and other markers, so it is possible that having a tattoo was extrapolated to being part of these insignia.

5 Equivalent to 6 US dollars.