According to officials, six of the children were received by county authorities in Warrap State, while the remaining five have already continued to their respective homes in Western Equatoria State.
Speaking to Mayardit FM, Joseph Ngong Ngong, Executive Director in the Office of the Commissioner of Twic County, said the children arrived from Unity State, where they are believed to have joined military ranks either voluntarily or through recruitment efforts that are still under investigation.
Ngong said county officials, including the Commissioner and the Director of Gender and Social Welfare, welcomed the children upon their return home on Monday.
“These boys reportedly presented themselves to Division 11 last year and expressed a desire to join the army. They were accepted and taken into military barracks and training camps,” Ngong explained.
“However, UNICEF officials later traced them, established that they were underage, and facilitated their removal from active military service before reuniting them with their families,” he added.
According to Ngong, one of the children is from Gogrial East County, while others come from Turalei and Pan-Nyok payams in Twic County. The remaining children are from Western Equatoria State.
The reunification forms part of South Sudan’s ongoing Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) efforts aimed at ending the recruitment and use of children in armed forces and armed groups. The programme seeks to protect children’s rights, including access to education, healthcare, freedom, and family life.
Despite progress made in reducing child recruitment, challenges remain. Poverty, food insecurity, lack of educational opportunities, and insecurity continue to expose vulnerable children to recruitment risks.
Child rights advocates have repeatedly warned that some children join armed groups in search of survival opportunities, while others may be recruited under coercive circumstances. International and national partners continue to work with communities and security institutions to prevent the recruitment of minors and ensure that affected children are safely returned to their families and supported in rebuilding their lives.
