Geneva/Khartoum, November 23, 2016 (SSNA) — The United Nations and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Malik Agar have signed an accord to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers.
The UN has in the past accused the SPLA-North of using children and urged its leadership to end its recruitment practice.
“SPLM-N is firmly committed to the protection of children in conflict and today’s signing is a continuity of that commitment,” Agar said after the signing of pact.
UN representative praises Agar’s for choosing the right way to protect children.
“We welcome the SPLM-N’s commitment to better protect children by ending and preventing the recruitment and use of children. The United Nations in Sudan reiterates that it stands ready to support the full implementation of this Action Plan,” Marta Ruedas, co-chairs of the UN Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting said.
The SPLM-North has been on a UN annual list of parties accused of child recruitment and the new deal could result in the group being removed from the blacklist.
The agreement requires the rebel group to fulfill a series of measures to end and prevent current and future recruitment of child soldiers.