Children recruited into armed groups in DR Congo describe abduction, drugging and violence as call for greater action

KINSHASA, 12 February 2026 – Children recruited into armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have backed calls for greater action to bring those responsible to account after describing how they were abducted, drugged and witnessed horrific violence, Save the Children said. 

New figures show at least 1,360 children were released from armed groups in the eastern province of Ituri in 2025. However, 13,000 children in the province remained in armed groups, meaning only about one in 10 children gained freedom last year. 

To mark International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers – also known as Red Hand Day - Save the Children is calling for an urgent end to the devastating trend in the DRC and the release of all child soldiers, so they can return home and receive safe and dignified support, such as education, case management, family tracing, and psychosocial support, to help them rebuild their lives.  

Georges*, 17, from Ituri province was attacked by a group of men who forced him to walk for two days to a training camp, where he was trained to handle weapons. He witnessed extreme violence while with the armed group. After finally escaping and returning home, he struggled to sleep and suffered debilitating anxiety.    

Georges said:  

“While I was returning from the water source, I was surrounded by four men I didn’t recognise. They covered my head with a hood and took me away by force. We survived on stolen food. Every morning, we underwent intense physical training. We had to carry heavy objects for hours to build endurance.  

“I participated in several missions. I witnessed horrific scenes—men, women, and children being killed. It was unbearable, especially at first. To make us numb to the violence, they gave us herbal potions. These potions put us in a state of total obedience.  

“My return brought [my grandmother] immense joy. But even though I was back, I wasn’t well. I couldn’t sleep. I was constantly anxious.” 

Greg Ramm, Save the Children’s Country Director in DRC, said:   

“While Georges is now receiving support to help with his recovery and reintegration, there are thousands more boys and girls like him still suffering. It’s unacceptable children in DRC, in the thousands, continue to be recruited by armed adults and exposed to extreme violence. Being forced into violence causes severe, long-term physical and psychological damage to children – as well as their families, and entire communities.   

“The government of DRC must commit to ending impunity for those responsible for recruitment and use of children, and along with other States, diplomatically support the UN’s systematic monitoring and reporting of violations of children’s rights in conflict, including the tracking of age- and gender-disaggregated data.” 

The DRC has made progress in recent years in addressing the issue of child recruitment, including the adoption of an Action Plan in 2012 and the establishment of a Joint Technical Working Group to coordinate implementation. However, much work remains to be done both by the government of the DRC, as well as by the international community to ensure the protection of children from all forms of violence.  

All governments need to ensure that perpetrators of violations against children are held accountable through strengthened international and national accountability mechanisms as well as by supporting regional accountability mechanisms, including the African Union’s work on children and armed conflict.  

Save the Children programmes in the DRC provide support to children who have been released from armed groups. These children receive both psychosocial and economic support to help them reintegrate into their communities. Depending on their age, some children return to school, while others receive vocational training in practical skills such as tailoring, carpentry, or mechanics, equipping them with the tools to build sustainable livelihoods. 

Save the Children started working in eastern DRC in 1994, and is currently working with 13 local partners, as well as international partners and government authorities, to deliver critical health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection and education support to children and their families.   

ENDS 

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