Condemnation of the Militarization of Childhood at Fatima Al-Zahraa Kindergarten and the Use of Children as Instruments of Armed Conflict

The Sudanese National Observatory for Human Rights expresses its deep shock and strong condemnation of the scenes documented in the widely circulated video, which shows a military-style graduation ceremony for children at Fatima Al‑Zahraa Kindergarten, held under the supervision and in the presence of senior commanders from the Special Operations Forces affiliated with the Sudanese army. The video depicts very young children dressed in military uniforms and carrying weapons during the ceremony, reflecting a deliberate militarization of childhood and the transformation of educational institutions into spaces of indoctrination rather than protection and learning.

The footage reveals a dangerous pattern similar to practices used by armed groups designated internationally for serious human rights violations, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. These practices include presenting military displays to children and exposing them to hostile and ideological slogans, thereby fostering extremism and undermining their right to grow up in a safe, non‑militarized environment.

Involving children in military ceremonies, dressing them in combat attire, and placing weapons in their hands constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Such actions may amount to a war crime if verified, as they thrust minors into violent settings and expose them to psychological and social harm that can have long‑lasting effects.

The Sudanese National Observatory for Human Rights affirms that the video evidence requires an independent and impartial international investigation to identify those responsible for the militarization of Fatima Al‑Zahraa Kindergarten and to ensure accountability for practices that endanger children and deepen cycles of violence in Sudan.

The Observatory calls for:

– The immediate cessation of all military or militarized activities within educational institutions.
– An independent international investigation into the Fatima Al‑Zahraa Kindergarten ceremony and those responsible for organizing it.
– Protection and rehabilitation for affected children, ensuring their removal from any environment linked to armed conflict.

The Observatory stresses that protecting children is a legal and moral obligation that cannot be compromised, and that Sudan’s future cannot be built on the militarization of childhood or the use of children as instruments of war.