Lire la version en français / Hier auf Deutsch lesen/ Lea la versión en español
Children continue to be among the most affected by the conflict in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province. There, education has been significantly disrupted as armed groups have attacked schools and primarily the Mozambican military continues to use schools as military bases and ammunition depots.
Now, in an alarming development, an ISIS-linked group known locally as Al-Shabab has ramped up abductions of children, to use them for transporting looted goods, forced labor, forced marriages, and even taking part in the fighting, a new HRW research finds. In recent days, 120 or more children have been abducted.
In January Al-Shabab attacked the village of Mumu and abducted four girls and three boys. During their subsequent retreat, two children were released, but five remain missing.
This is a common pattern, according to experts. When Al-Shabab enter or attack certain areas, they take children to train them so they can be used to the group’s advantage, including fighting on their behalf
While many of the recently abducted children remain missing, those who have returned to their communities struggle to reintegrate.
There is a lack of resources to support these children. Rescued children need medical care, psychosocial assistance, and other support that contributes to their protection and well-being.
Here is where the government comes in. Mozambique has not only the moral duty to protect children from all forms of violence, exploitation, and abuse, it is also enshrined in its constitution.
Under international law, children are entitled to special respect and protection, and recruiting or using children under the age of 15 to participate actively in hostilities is a war crime.
Mozambique’s government needs to take strong steps to protect children from armed groups and support their safe return and reintegration into their communities.
