adminleast 53 children could be recruited by the M23 rebels in the eastern province of North Kivu in the Central African country.
“I want to strongly condemn the recruitment and use of children and all forms of human rights violations that are committed by M23 and other armed groups against children,” the head of the UN Mission for Stabilisation of Congo (MONUSCO), Roger Meece, said on Monday.
“I demand that the March 23 Movement (M23) and other armed groups immediately cease their abuses, and I want to remind their commanders that they will be held personally responsible for violations committed against children who are recruited in their ranks,” Zerrougui said in the statement.
The statement revealed that the 53 children were among 70 others who had been recruited earlier by the M23 in Nyiragongo and Rutshuru territories in North Kivu province.
They escaped from the rebel group during the fighting between the M23 factions of Bosco Ntaganda and Sultani Makenga in February.
Fearing that they could be recaptured by the rebels, 17 children fled the region and 53 others are still in hiding. — Xinhua.
Online Reporter