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UN PhotoSOUTH SUDAN / MALAKAL CHILD COMBATANTS REINTEGRATION
STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / MALAKAL CHILD COMBATANTS REINTEGRATION
TRT: 03:59
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 23-24 APRIL 2026, MALAKAL, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, parade, verification, registration and disengagement exercise
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Gen. Ashab Khamis Fahal, SSPDF:
“The SSPDF is committed to the implementation of the Action Plan regarding the protection of the children, and we want all of us cooperate together. If any cases are raised, then it has to be taken officially to the headquarters of the SSPDF. And we are committed to see to it that the case is addressed and children will go back to their families because they are the future of South Sudan.”
3. Various shots, children being released
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) M.J., released underage combatant:
“We were told that there are visitors coming from Juba to see us in the training center. They came and asked us, are there children among you? We told them that we have children of 17, 16 and 15 years of age.”
5. Wide shot, convoy taking the children to the center
6. SOUNDBITE (English) General Ayuen Alier, National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Committee (NDDRC):
“I am asking the guardians and parents of the children that have been released to take care of the children. Don’t allow them again to go where they can find themselves into the army because they are still young and they are supposed to go to schools.”
7. Various shots, children arriving at the new safe center
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Wilbroad Ngambi, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
“We will provide them with basic needs, food shelter, clothing, safe water and even psychosocial support activities and as we work for the arrangement for transportation to Juba.”
9. Various shots, children playing games
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Kweku Adoah Bassaw, Child Protection Officer, UNMISS:
“We have been working very closely with the SSPDF leadership at the headquarters in Juba and in Malakal here to ensure that the children who were taken from various areas in South Sudan and unfortunately ended up in Upper Nile are being disengaged from the armed forces in Upper Nile.”
11. Wide shot, protection partners meeting
The South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) in Malakal, Upper Nile, has officially handed over 23 boys previously recruited into armed conflict so that they can return to civilian life and reunite with their families. This follows a joint verification exercise involving more than 700 young recruits where these 23 minors were identified and screened by the National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintergration Commission (NDDRC) with support from United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and UNICEF.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lt. Gen. Ashab Khamis Fahal, SSPDF:
“The SSPDF is committed to the implementation of the Action Plan regarding the protection of the children, and we want all of us cooperate together. If any cases are raised, then it has to be taken officially to the headquarters of the SSPDF. And we are committed to see to it that the case is addressed and children will go back to their families because they are the future of South Sudan.”
Hope was in the air for these young children, as they look forward to reclaiming their lives.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) M.J., released underage combatant:
“We were told the visitors who are coming from Juba to see us in the training center. They came and asked us, are there children among you? We told them that we have children of 17, 16 and 15 years of age.”
The NDDRC did not just facilitate the release but also committed to implementing a previously signed and finalized Comprehension Action Plan to end the recruitment and training of child soldiers across South Sudan.
SOUNDBITE (English) General Ayuen Alier, National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Committee (NDDRC):
“I am asking the guardians and parents of the children that have been released to take care of the children. Don’t allow them again to go where they can find themselves into the army because they are still young and they are supposed to go to schools.”
Currently, those released are receiving crucial support before they return to their families.
SOUNDBITE (English) Wilbroad Ngambi, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
“We will provide them with basic needs: food, shelter, clothing, safe water and even psychosocial support activities as we work on the arrangement for transportation to Juba.”
Through coordinated efforts with partners, UNMISS continues to work to end recruitment of children from armed groups and support their return to civilian life.
SOUNDBITE (English) Kweku Adoah Bassaw, Child Protection Officer, UNMISS:
“We have been working very closely with the SSPDF leadership at the Headquarters in Juba and in Malakal here to ensure that the children who were taken from various areas in South Sudan, and unfortunately ended up in Upper Nile, are being disengaged from the armed forces in Upper Nile.”
Because without protecting children, sustained peace cannot be fully realized.
