The Involvement of Pro-Armed Forces Militias in the Recruitment of Children

Newly circulated images showing children wearing military uniforms while participating in the ongoing fighting in North Kordofan raise serious concerns about the continued recruitment and use of children in hostilities under labels associated with the “Popular Resistance.” These allegations warrant an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation to establish the facts and identify those responsible.

The presence of children on the battlefield reflects the grave exploitation of minors in armed conflict, depriving them of their fundamental rights to life, education, protection, and healthy development while exposing them to severe physical and psychological harm.

The Sudanese National Observatory for Human Rights affirms that the recruitment or use of children in hostilities, if verified, constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law and may amount to a war crime. The Observatory calls on all parties to the conflict to immediately end the recruitment and use of children and to ensure their protection and removal from all forms of armed conflict.