Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone

Monday, December 14, 2015

Information on Sierra Leone's Child Soldiers

In the Sierra Leone civil war, the Rebels formed the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). This group terrorized many towns including Freetown. There they captured many children and forced them to join RUF. Because these children were young and impressionable, they were easily motivated by fear. The rebels would threaten to kill the children if they wouldn't join the RUF. Once in the army, they were forced to perform a variety of duties. Some had to carry equipment, while others were involved by being given a gun and forced to become an active soldier in the war. One child soldier recalled burning down "an entire town" and stealing "U.N vehicles". Another former child soldier remembered his experience while being forced to carry "heavy bags of salt" with his brother. For many days both of the young boys endured the pain and fatigue of walking without much rest, however the work became too much as his brother eventually complained about exhaustion. Unable to stop them, this young boy witnessed the tragic death of his brother as the rebel soldiers callously shot him. In addition, the rebels often kidnapped girls for the sole purpose of sexual abuse. A twenty- one year old girl told of the horrors she experienced when the RUF kidnapped her. Immediately following her capture she was raped "in front of her husband". After that she admits to being raped "almost continuously" by seven rebel soldiers. ("Sierra Leone Rebels Forcefully Recruit Child Soldiers"). Former child soldier Peter Gbondo stated ``The rebels cut off people's hands. They cut out their eyes. They cut off people's noses, if you are not for the rebels, they will kill you. That's what they said to us'' (qtd. Maykuth). Unfortunately the horrendous acts the children committed and witnessed makes it near impossible for them to return to normal life. Andrew points out, "Returning the children to their communities can be even more difficult. Their families often have next to nothing - no beds, no schools, no income to buy food. And their communities may understand only the horrible things that the children did and not the things that were done to the children" (Maykuth). Clearly the practice of child soldiers must be stopped as its cruelty has an everlasting negative effect on the lives of the children.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Map of Sierra Leone

(WordPress.com)

Friday, December 4, 2015

The Forgotten War: The Sierra Leone Civil War

In the Sierra Leone civil war the inhumane use of child soldiers became apparent. The rebel group would enter a village, terrorize the inhabitants, and pillage the houses, kidnapping the children and frightening them in to submission by killing their family. Throughout their time in the army, the children would repeatedly be forced to observe acts of violence which ensured their obedience. Unfortunately many of the girls that were kidnapped were "sexually abused" and "gang raped". "It is estimated that 30% of children involved in the nation’s war were girls between the ages of 8 and 18" (msnbc.com). Because of the horrific things these children experienced, the road to recovery after the war was slow. Many former child soldiers could never overcome their violent feelings, while others were forever swallowed in the guilt of the merciless killings they were forced to execute during the war.