Recruitment and deployment of children by armed factions in Somalia: a study of its effects on their well-being

The recruitment of children in South Central Somalia has exposed the children to harsh and dangerous environment where they are raped, wounded or maimed, and in many cases killed. Their participation in armed conflicts... [ view full abstract ]

The recruitment of children in South Central Somalia has exposed the children to harsh and dangerous environment where they are raped, wounded or maimed, and in many cases killed. Their participation in armed conflicts prohibits their physical, psychological and social well-being and disrupts their going to school.
This study obtained from both ex-child soldiers and present child soldiers aged 7 to 18 years as unit of observations in the research study. The study had total of 100 respondents with 73 being males and 27 Females. It used snowball sampling method to sample 100 respondents. Out of the respondents, 75 were ex-child soldiers while the remaining 25 were child soldiers still deployed by different armed militia factions in Benadir district. The researcher used purposive sampling method to sample 24 key informants. Out of the 24 Key informants 11 of them were females while 13 were males.
Key findings of the study a) Most child soldiers recruited by armed factions came from the streets. IDPs camps, and single parenthood families showing lack of proper child friendly spaces b) Force and religious indoctrination was the commonest method employed by armed factions to recruit child soldiers c) Most child soldiers were assigned to frontline combat and manning of roadblocks d) Majority of the ex-child soldiers were greatly affected psychologically and socially e) Reintegration process of ex-child soldiers was in adequate showing lack functioning governmental institutions and inadequate child friendly spaces
Recommendations a) Rethinking child protections and enhancing education Campaigns b) The government of Somalia to establish many rehabilitation centres and child friendly spaces c) Making policies more effective d) Strategies sensitive to an oral tradition to stop child recruitment e) Ratification of UNCRC and African Charter on the rights and welfare of the child and ILO Convention 182.