“Evil befell me” – Former child soldier recounts horrors endured in the bush

JUBA – Allan Kudmoch Agon was just eight years old when his life was irrevocably changed. A resident of a village in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Agon had already endured the loss of his father during South Sudan’s war of liberation. Yet, he still had his mother and siblings, and dreams of one day attending school.

But all of that was shattered when soldiers stormed his village in 2016, abducting him along with other children.

For days, Agon walked for hours without food, driven deeper into the bush, separated from his family. Confused and frightened, he soon learned that he would be forced to carry weapons and ammunition for the soldiers.

Now 21, Agon recalls the painful memories of his abduction. “I lost my father during the civil war,” he said, adding that his grandmother stepped in as his caretaker. “At the tender age of 8, I was forcefully taken away from our house into the bush, where I came face-to-face with the evil that would befall me. This was just the beginning of my encounter with adversity.”

Agon spoke these words at an event in Juba, South Sudan, marking the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers, also known as ‘Red Hand Day.’

The former child soldier went on to describe the harrowing conditions he and other abducted youths endured in the bush. They spent sleepless nights parading and singing, often facing extreme hunger.

“We would go for days without food, spending sleepless nights singing and parading, denied access to school and other social services,” Agon recalled. “We were forced to carry guns — guns that were taller than me — cook for the soldiers, and walk long distances in search of water and food for them.”

He vividly described the cold nights in the forest, where mosquitoes preyed upon them and the harsh environment took its toll.

“When I woke up, I had white, salty residue on my face from hours of crying,” Agon lamented.

“I couldn’t see any possibility of ever having a normal life. Not after witnessing both children and soldiers die and be left for the wild animals,” he recalled, his voice heavy with horror.

However, one fateful day, while on a trip to Pibor, Agon took a bold step toward freedom. After much internal conflict, he reported himself to GREDO, a South Sudanese organization dedicated to reintegrating former child soldiers into society.

“I was afraid of the torture I would face if the other soldiers found out about my betrayal. But one morning, I woke up determined to overcome my fear,” Agon said. “I reported myself to GREDO’s case worker, and my story has never been the same again.”

Thanks to GREDO’s support, Agon began the long road to recovery. He regained the ability to dream and, above all, a desire to return to school.

“I could dream again,” he said. “All I wanted was to go back to school.”

Agon now emphasizes the importance of education, believing it to be the key to a brighter future.

“Through GREDO’s support, I completed my secondary education and am now part of an apprenticeship program,” he said. “I’ve come such a long way, and I hope to use the power of education to create my own destiny and inspire others who have gone through similar ordeals.”

He also called on both the South Sudanese government and armed groups to cease the recruitment of children into the military.

“The war stole my childhood and left me orphaned and homeless. Being a child soldier left me with scars that may last forever,” Agon reflected. “My prayer is that no child should ever have to go through this. Let’s allow children to be children — to be in schools, in happy homes, and not on the battlefield.”

During the event, Anita Kiki Gbeho, the deputy special representative of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), urged immediate action to prevent the recruitment of minors.

She praised the South Sudan National Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Commission, as well as national state technical committees, for their efforts in identifying child soldiers.

“Your efforts last year led to the release of 63 children — 55 boys and 8 girls — from armed forces and groups,” Ms. Gbeho noted.

Lt-Gen Ashab Khamis, Assistant Chief of Defense for Moral Orientation and Chaplaincy, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that children are not recruited into the national army.

“I want to assure everyone here that the government of South Sudan is committed to protecting children. That is why we signed comprehensive action plans,” Khamis said. “We are continually renewing these plans to ensure that, by the end of the process, there are no violations regarding the six grave violations against children.”

Despite these efforts, the UN estimates that there are still 19,000 children serving in armed forces in South Sudan — a number the national army contests.