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| Magic, militias and rare redemption: reintegrating CAR's child soldiers | Magic, militias and rare redemption: reintegrating CAR's child soldiers |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Eric Mamboué tells a story that goes to the heart of what it means to be a child soldier, perfectly capturing the anomaly of a term that applies to tens of thousands of children and teenagers across the world. | Eric Mamboué tells a story that goes to the heart of what it means to be a child soldier, perfectly capturing the anomaly of a term that applies to tens of thousands of children and teenagers across the world. |
| The Burkinabé head of War Child UK’s operations in Central African Republic describes a 14-year-old boy who had joined one of the so-called anti-balaka (anti-machete) militias and become close to its leader, a man said to have mystical powers that meant bullets could not harm him. | The Burkinabé head of War Child UK’s operations in Central African Republic describes a 14-year-old boy who had joined one of the so-called anti-balaka (anti-machete) militias and become close to its leader, a man said to have mystical powers that meant bullets could not harm him. |
| “The boy felt very powerful being with this chief, until one day they were fighting against some of the Minusca [UN peacekeepers] and his chief was killed,” Mamboué said on the phone from the capital, Bangui. | “The boy felt very powerful being with this chief, until one day they were fighting against some of the Minusca [UN peacekeepers] and his chief was killed,” Mamboué said on the phone from the capital, Bangui. |
| “Now, he felt serious fear and trauma because he thought, ‘Wow, I can also die tomorrow’. So he managed to run away from the anti-balaka,” said Mamboué, whose team works with local NGOs to help former child soldiers return to their communities in a country still tilting between war and peace. | “Now, he felt serious fear and trauma because he thought, ‘Wow, I can also die tomorrow’. So he managed to run away from the anti-balaka,” said Mamboué, whose team works with local NGOs to help former child soldiers return to their communities in a country still tilting between war and peace. |
| Related: People of Central African Republic pray election will bring peace at last | |
| After his abrupt reawakening, the teenager was aghast to realise he had wasted four years with the anti-balaka. | After his abrupt reawakening, the teenager was aghast to realise he had wasted four years with the anti-balaka. |
| “I don’t want to be a carpenter or anything. I want to go back to school,” he told the coordinator of the War Child programme, which offers training in farming or vocational skills and helps children resume their studies if that is what they want. | “I don’t want to be a carpenter or anything. I want to go back to school,” he told the coordinator of the War Child programme, which offers training in farming or vocational skills and helps children resume their studies if that is what they want. |
| Dismay, fear, anger and often a deep desire for revenge torment these children, Mamboué said. In the Ouham region, War Child is working with 178 children, including six girls, who were released from armed groups following intervention by Unicef and the social affairs ministry. War Child has since expanded the initiative to reach another 1,300 children in nearby districts. | Dismay, fear, anger and often a deep desire for revenge torment these children, Mamboué said. In the Ouham region, War Child is working with 178 children, including six girls, who were released from armed groups following intervention by Unicef and the social affairs ministry. War Child has since expanded the initiative to reach another 1,300 children in nearby districts. |
| The vulnerability of CAR’s children predates this latest surge of violence in a country that for decades has been preyed on by a self-declared emperor and myriad warlords, among others, all eager to strip it of rich assets including diamonds and gold. | The vulnerability of CAR’s children predates this latest surge of violence in a country that for decades has been preyed on by a self-declared emperor and myriad warlords, among others, all eager to strip it of rich assets including diamonds and gold. |
| War Child has been working here since 2010, initially with children who were kidnapped by the rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army, who have terrorised communities from their origins in northern Uganda through to Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. | War Child has been working here since 2010, initially with children who were kidnapped by the rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army, who have terrorised communities from their origins in northern Uganda through to Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. |
| The charity has now expanded its operations, responding to the fact that an estimated 6,000-10,000 children have been recruited or forcibly enlisted in myriad armed groups on all sides since political conflict erupted in 2013. | The charity has now expanded its operations, responding to the fact that an estimated 6,000-10,000 children have been recruited or forcibly enlisted in myriad armed groups on all sides since political conflict erupted in 2013. |
| In March of that year, mainly Muslim Seleka rebels overthrew the president and installed Michel Djotodia, who was subsequently accused of sending child soldiers to their deaths during the coup. The Seleka terrorised the majority Christian population and predominantly Christian forces, or anti-balaka, retaliated by slaughtering thousands of Muslims and forcing many more from their homes. | In March of that year, mainly Muslim Seleka rebels overthrew the president and installed Michel Djotodia, who was subsequently accused of sending child soldiers to their deaths during the coup. The Seleka terrorised the majority Christian population and predominantly Christian forces, or anti-balaka, retaliated by slaughtering thousands of Muslims and forcing many more from their homes. |
| Djotodia, the country’s first Muslim leader, resigned after nine months and Catherine Samba-Panza was installed as interim president to lead the country towards elections, the first round of which took place in December. | Djotodia, the country’s first Muslim leader, resigned after nine months and Catherine Samba-Panza was installed as interim president to lead the country towards elections, the first round of which took place in December. |
| A runoff presidential vote and legislative elections, meant to signal the start of a new era, are due to be held on Sunday. Before the poll, the UN mission said a forthcoming report would shed light on “grave violations and abuses of human rights” in Bangui in September and October 2015, when a fresh burst of violence gripped the city. | A runoff presidential vote and legislative elections, meant to signal the start of a new era, are due to be held on Sunday. Before the poll, the UN mission said a forthcoming report would shed light on “grave violations and abuses of human rights” in Bangui in September and October 2015, when a fresh burst of violence gripped the city. |
| Related: UN deal secures release of child soldiers held by Central African Republic militias | |
| The report used witness testimonies to document the killing of at least 41 civilians, rape and other sexual violence, kidnapping, and the looting of property (including the theft of medical equipment and other supplies from NGOs). The authors said most of the abuses were carried out by the anti-balaka and the former Seleka groups, but that the state’s armed forces also committed violations. | The report used witness testimonies to document the killing of at least 41 civilians, rape and other sexual violence, kidnapping, and the looting of property (including the theft of medical equipment and other supplies from NGOs). The authors said most of the abuses were carried out by the anti-balaka and the former Seleka groups, but that the state’s armed forces also committed violations. |
| Mamboué said it can be difficult to persuade children and teenagers, whether forcibly recruited or not, to relinquish the power that comes with being part of a gang in a country with one of the highest poverty rates in the world at 62%, and gross national income per capita of just $320 (£222). | Mamboué said it can be difficult to persuade children and teenagers, whether forcibly recruited or not, to relinquish the power that comes with being part of a gang in a country with one of the highest poverty rates in the world at 62%, and gross national income per capita of just $320 (£222). |
| Some children were forced into armed groups; others joined because their friends were already involved and seemed to enjoy it, or because their parents had been killed. Sometimes, after an attack on their village, children joined community defence groups that evolved into militias. | Some children were forced into armed groups; others joined because their friends were already involved and seemed to enjoy it, or because their parents had been killed. Sometimes, after an attack on their village, children joined community defence groups that evolved into militias. |
| “Initially, the idea is to defend your community, then you move to doing small things like manning roadblocks, delivering messages, then gradually you become involved in learning how to use weapons, not necessarily guns but knives and machetes,” Mamboué said. | “Initially, the idea is to defend your community, then you move to doing small things like manning roadblocks, delivering messages, then gradually you become involved in learning how to use weapons, not necessarily guns but knives and machetes,” Mamboué said. |
| Some of the older children might also have used drugs, and this can make their reintegration even harder, he said. Most of the children are aged between 10 and 18. | Some of the older children might also have used drugs, and this can make their reintegration even harder, he said. Most of the children are aged between 10 and 18. |
| “Some have been very active in these groups, some have witnessed the killing of their parents or relatives, and they keep this anger inside, with the idea of getting revenge. They end up being violent, particularly when it comes to dealing with the opposite side,” Mamboué said. | “Some have been very active in these groups, some have witnessed the killing of their parents or relatives, and they keep this anger inside, with the idea of getting revenge. They end up being violent, particularly when it comes to dealing with the opposite side,” Mamboué said. |
| Last May, Unicef helped to broker a deal between the leaders of 10 armed groups to secure the release of the 6,000 to 10,000 children thought to be connected with the different factions. Shortly afterwards, a first group of more than 350 children were released by armed groups. | Last May, Unicef helped to broker a deal between the leaders of 10 armed groups to secure the release of the 6,000 to 10,000 children thought to be connected with the different factions. Shortly afterwards, a first group of more than 350 children were released by armed groups. |
| Related: Ishmael Beah hails South Sudan's former child soldiers as future leaders | Nadene Ghouri | Related: Ishmael Beah hails South Sudan's former child soldiers as future leaders | Nadene Ghouri |
| To keep the children and teenagers focused on peace, War Child works with community leaders, women’s associations, government departments and other groups to mentor, train and talk to the former combatants and provide new role models. But they cannot do it alone – a peaceful environment is also needed, and this is a challenge in a country where even the most basic infrastructure is lacking, and nearly half a million people are still displaced from their homes. | To keep the children and teenagers focused on peace, War Child works with community leaders, women’s associations, government departments and other groups to mentor, train and talk to the former combatants and provide new role models. But they cannot do it alone – a peaceful environment is also needed, and this is a challenge in a country where even the most basic infrastructure is lacking, and nearly half a million people are still displaced from their homes. |
| Mamboué said he hoped the re-establishment of local authorities and police would help clear the roadblocks, removing some of the temptation to return to the militias. | Mamboué said he hoped the re-establishment of local authorities and police would help clear the roadblocks, removing some of the temptation to return to the militias. |
| “The idea is, and this is going to take time, these roadblocks will no longer be a source of income for anybody, unless you become a real bandit, working in the bush. It won’t be like the past, where you can just set up a roadblock on the outskirts of the city and whatever car comes there, you demand payment.” | “The idea is, and this is going to take time, these roadblocks will no longer be a source of income for anybody, unless you become a real bandit, working in the bush. It won’t be like the past, where you can just set up a roadblock on the outskirts of the city and whatever car comes there, you demand payment.” |
| There are some tentative indications of success. Mamboué said that despite recent violence, 171 of the original 178 children are still in the programme in Batangafo, and the other seven have gone to Bangui to resume their studies. | There are some tentative indications of success. Mamboué said that despite recent violence, 171 of the original 178 children are still in the programme in Batangafo, and the other seven have gone to Bangui to resume their studies. |
| “The children know that living as an anti-balaka is not the conventional life of a child … They know there are others who have gone to school and are now teachers. Their older brothers are not anti-balaka,” he says. | “The children know that living as an anti-balaka is not the conventional life of a child … They know there are others who have gone to school and are now teachers. Their older brothers are not anti-balaka,” he says. |
| “He or she has to be able to grasp the value of the alternative you are proposing.” | “He or she has to be able to grasp the value of the alternative you are proposing.” |