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Report: Alnaeim Mubarak Kuol
A verification team visited the Irube cantonment site in Eastern Equatoria, designated for forces aligned with South Sudan’s revitalized peace agreement, to assess the situation of children within military camps.
The visit yielded positive observations, with the site being confirmed as a location for adults only. Inspectors found no evidence of any violations of children’s rights.
The investigation aimed to determine whether any girls or boys were present at the Irube cantonment site, which houses soldiers from the country’s main forces, as well as at military barracks in Magwi and Torit.
Major General Chaplain Khamis, Director of Child Protection within the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, commented:
“We are very serious about protecting children’s rights and keeping them safe from harm. We take pride in our recent track record in this regard.”
However, the visiting delegation identified a significant concern: over 500 children live with their parents near the military barracks in Irube but lack access to basic education and healthcare.
Major General Patrick Ohiti Osfaldo, Commander of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition, stated:
“While we do not recruit children, it is disheartening that a lack of teachers and proper infrastructure affects the future of the younger generation. We urge peace partners to assist us in building classrooms nearby.”
Currently, the nearest school, funded by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), is located eight kilometers away in Gunyoro village, a distance that poses a significant challenge for these children.
Priscila Ong Ayo Okaalo, a Child Protection Officer with UNMISS, remarked:
“We fully understand the need to address this sad situation. We are collaborating with the UN Children’s Fund to find a viable solution.”
The joint verification team included representatives from the Child Protection Units of the two main military forces, the National Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Commission, the Eastern Equatoria State Technical Committee on Child Protection, and the United Nations peacekeeping mission.
