Humanitarian agencies in the east of Democratic Republic of Congo have secured the release of more than 200 child soldiers from pro-government militia, the UN children's agency Unicef said today.
It said the release of the 232 children, whose average age was 14, followed a campaign against the recruitment and use of children by armed groups operating in Congo's North Kivu province, where conflict has driven thousands of civilians from their homes.
"The majority of the 232 children are currently in transitory care facilities and awaiting family reunification," Unicef said in a statement
While it welcomed the release, Unicef said hundreds of children remained with armed groups and forces in the Congo, where national elections last year have failed to halt intertwined conflicts in the east of the country
"Unicef is calling on all armed groups and forces to release these children immediately into the care of child protection agencies," the agency said.
North Kivu has experienced successive outbreaks of fighting in recent months involving the Congolese army, the forces of a renegade Tutsi general, Rwandan Hutu rebels and Mai Mai militiamen who say they work with the government army.
Congolese President Joseph Kabila, who won elections in the vast, former Belgian colony last year, has vowed to pacify the violent east, where rebel groups and militias are still killing and looting after the end of the country's 1998-2003 war.