Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) handed over this Saturday, November 30, 40 former hostages of the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) rebels and the Mai-Mai armed groups to the MONUSCO child protection section and its partners. Among these former hostages are 29 minors, victims of forced recruitment into armed groups.
These former hostages were released following joint operations conducted by the FARDC and the Ugandan army (UPDF) in the region. These offensives aim to neutralize armed groups active in eastern DRC, including the ADF and some Mai-Mai groups. Colonel Mack Hazukay, spokesperson for Sokola 1 operations, explains:
"Among the 27 minors, there are 7 Mai-Mai. This proves that even the armed groups do not help us. These Mai-Mai, they were in the group abusively called Wazalendo, to tell you that these people are also committing war crimes. Because the fact of using children, minors in armed groups, are crimes that we are condemning. The people we are presenting today are among the fruits of joint operations. It is up to civil society to guide the minors, and the ex-hostages especially the adults so that they can return to their natural environments."
The military spokesman in the region strongly denounced the recruitment and use of children by armed groups, calling these acts war crimes.
The 29 minors were handed over to MONUSCO's Child Protection Section, which works with partner organizations for their reintegration into society. As for the former adult hostages, they were handed over to civil society, which will be responsible for their reintegration into their communities of origin.
