The heads of eight armed Central African groups have committed themselves today in Bangui to free several thousand child soldiers and to stop recruting minors, something inedit in a country marked by continuous rebellions and coups d’état.
The agreement was signed yesterday at the Bangui Forum that during a week gathers 600 participants in favour of a national reconcilitation and debates the future of the country.
The ceremony was headed by Defense Minister Marie-Noëlle Koyara. France and US ambassadors also attended as well as representatives from the Economic Community of Central African States.
Among the signers there are two main characters of the crisis the country had to endure during 2013 and 2014: three factions of exSeleka rebellion and the anti-balaka militia.
“We promise to respect this committment in order to give Central African children the same posibilities as any other children in the world,” stated Abel Balinguele, spokesman of the Army for the Restoration of Democracy (APRD).
This agreement “is a very important stage in child protection in this country,” asserted Mohamed Malick Fall, a Unicef representative.
Between 6,000 and 10,000 children are being recruited by different armed forces and rebellions that have been operating for several years in Central African Republic.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald