Wednesday, June 16, 2010
There are only two countries that have not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the use of child soldiers: the United States and Somalia. Perhaps then it is no surprise to learn that American taxpayer dollars are going to arm Somali children, some as young as nine, to fight on behalf of the embattled central government.
Officials in Washington confirmed to The New York Times that the U.S. government is aware of funds going to support child soldiers. The officials added that they were concerned about the situation and have urged Somali leaders to “be more careful” with U.S. aid. But one official admitted he did not have a “good answer” for making sure American taxpayer dollars no longer pay for AK-47s distributed to soldiers under 15.
Somalia is considered to be one of the “most persistent violators” of international rules against using child soldiers, according to the United Nations. In addition to the Transitional Federal Government using them, Islamist rebels controlling most the country have reportedly forced children into their armies.
According to Ali Sheikh Yassin, vice-chairman of Somalia’s Elman Peace Centre, about 20 percent of government troops and 80 percent of rebel troops are children.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Children Carry Guns for a U.S. Ally, Somalia (by Jeffrey Gettleman, New York Times)
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