Angola's Child Soldier Crisis: Counting The Victims

Child soldiers in Angola refers to the military use of children under the age of 18 by national armed forces or other armed groups. While the exact number of child soldiers in Angola is unknown, estimates put the figure at around 7,000-11,000. The Angolan government denies the use of child soldiers, but NGOs confirm their involvement in both state forces and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). Children's rights groups estimate that as many as 11,000 children were involved in the final years of fighting. Some received weapons training and fought in the conflict, while others served as porters, cooks, spies, and labourers. The use of child soldiers in Angola has led to human rights abuses and violated both Angolan and international law. The government's failure to include these children in demobilization programs has further exacerbated the issue, with children being denied access to necessary assistance and support.

Child soldiers in Angola: the numbers

The exact number of child soldiers in Angola is unknown. However, estimates put the figure at several thousand. The recruitment and use of child soldiers in Angola is a violation of both Angolan and international law.

Estimates of the number of child soldiers in Angola

No official figures exist for how many children fought with UNITA and the Angolan government during the last resumption of the war from 1998 to 2002. The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers estimates that 7,000 children served with UNITA and Angolan government forces. Child protection workers in Angola have suggested that the number may be as high as 11,000.

Factors affecting the number of child soldiers in Angola

The lack of systematic birth registration in Angola makes it easier for children to be recruited as soldiers. In addition, the inaccessibility of some regions and the high number of unregistered births in the country make it difficult to estimate the number of child soldiers accurately.

The use of child soldiers in Angola

Both the Angolan government and UNITA used child soldiers during the Angolan Civil War. Children's rights groups estimate that as many as 11,000 children were involved in the final years of the conflict. Some received weapons and combat training, while others served in non-combatant roles such as porters, cooks, spies, and labourers.

The legal status of child soldiers in Angola

The recruitment of children under the age of 18 is prohibited under the Constitution of Angola. In addition, Angola is a party to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which prohibits the recruitment of children under 18 and places obligations on states to provide for the protection, care, and recovery of child victims of conflict, including child combatants.

The impact of child soldiers in Angola

The use of child soldiers has had a significant impact on Angolan society. Atrocities have been committed by child soldiers, and children who have been recruited as soldiers often face physical and psychological challenges, including post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, the recruitment of child soldiers has deprived children of educational, vocational, and developmental opportunities.

While the exact number of child soldiers in Angola is unknown, it is clear that the recruitment and use of child soldiers in the country is a significant issue that requires attention and action from the Angolan government and the international community.

The role of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)

The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) was founded in 1966 by Jonas Savimbi and Antonio da Costa Fernandes, along with 200 other delegates. UNITA fought alongside the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA) in the Angolan War for Independence (1961-1975) and then against the MPLA in the ensuing civil war (1975-2002).

UNITA was initially Maoist in its outlook, but it quickly abandoned these principles when it began collaborating with Portuguese officials against the MPLA. Instead, it focused on rural rights and recognised ethnic divisions. UNITA's support lay largely with the Ovimbundu and Chokwe ethnic groups in central and southern Angola. Savimbi presented UNITA as the representative of black peasants, and its constitution proclaimed that the movement would strive for a government proportionally representative of all ethnic groups, clans, and classes.

UNITA's military wing, the Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FALA), was under the supreme authority of Savimbi as commander-in-chief. By the mid-1980s, FALA had evolved into a well-defined conventional military organisation with command and specialised staff organs, a formal hierarchy of ranks, an array of weapons and equipment, and considerable international support.

UNITA was backed by the US and South Africa during the civil war, receiving military aid and support. In 1986, the US supplied UNITA with $15-20 million in "covert" military aid, and by the late 1980s, Pretoria was the group's principal source of arms, training, logistical, and intelligence support.

UNITA's ability to survive and thrive as an armed resistance movement was largely down to Savimbi's leadership. He built a credible political organisation and fighting force, and UNITA proved especially effective militarily, controlling vast swaths of Angola's interior.

In 1991, a peace accord was brokered between the MPLA and UNITA, which led to the country's first multiparty elections in 1992. However, UNITA claimed electoral fraud and resumed the armed struggle. Another agreement, the Lusaka Accord, was signed in 1994, but Savimbi continued to fight, funded by diamond smuggling.

In 1998, Savimbi faced opposition from within UNITA, and the group split into three factions. In February 2002, Savimbi was killed by government troops, and in April 2002, UNITA agreed to a ceasefire with the government, bringing an end to 27 years of civil war. UNITA transformed itself into a political party, and in the 2017 elections, it won around 27% of the vote.

The role of the Angolan government

The Angolan government has played a significant role in the issue of child soldiers in the country. Despite national legislation prohibiting the conscription of children, the government has been accused of using child soldiers during the civil war. The government's armed forces and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) both used child soldiers in the conflict.

The government's role in the use of child soldiers is well-documented. Many children were forcibly recruited or conscripted during government-led recruitment drives in areas under their control. Some boys received arms training and fought on the front lines, while others worked as radio operators, mechanics, and repairmen. The government has denied these allegations but non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have confirmed the involvement of child soldiers in state forces.

Following the end of the civil war in 2002, the government's role in addressing the issue of child soldiers has been criticized. Child soldiers were excluded from demobilization programs and did not receive the same benefits as adult combatants, such as identification cards, food assistance, and reintegration support. This exclusion violated Angolan and international law, as the government has obligations to provide for the recovery and reintegration of all children affected by conflict. The lack of direct assistance and rehabilitation for former child combatants put them at risk of future manipulation and involvement in military service or illegal activities.

The government has also been criticized for failing to provide basic services to all Angolans, including former child soldiers. The country's infrastructure, including schools and health clinics, was left in ruins after the civil war. The lack of qualified professionals in the interior of the country further exacerbated the issue, leaving the majority of the population without access to basic health and education services.

International organizations and human rights groups have called on the Angolan government to fulfill its obligations to its citizens, particularly in ensuring the rights to education and health for all children. The government's increased international prominence, including its chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community and its seat on the United Nations Security Council, should be linked to greater accountability and benefits for its people.

The treatment of child soldiers post-conflict

Although there are no official figures, it is estimated that as many as 11,000 children were involved in the last years of the Angolan Civil War. Child soldiers were used by both the government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).

• Demobilization and Rehabilitation: Child soldiers need to be officially released from armed groups and provided with rehabilitation programs. These programs should address their specific experiences, including trauma, emotional abuse, and protection from re-recruitment.
• Psychological Support: Many child soldiers suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, aggression, and other psychological issues. Treatment includes therapy, storytelling, music, and drama to help them process their experiences and develop trust.
• Education and Economic Opportunities: Providing education and vocational training is crucial for child soldiers to develop new skills and build a future. Economic opportunities, such as access to jobs or income-generating activities, are also essential for their long-term stability.
• Family Reunification and Community Reintegration: Reuniting child soldiers with their families, when possible, is an important step. However, some children may face rejection or stigma from their communities. Efforts should be made to promote reconciliation and create a supportive environment for their return.
• Addressing Gender-Specific Needs: Female child soldiers often face unique challenges, such as sexual abuse and early pregnancy. Programs tailored to their specific needs, including reproductive health care and gender-sensitive psychological support, are necessary.
• Prevention of Future Recruitment: Addressing the root causes of child soldier recruitment, such as poverty and lack of education, is vital. This includes providing alternative opportunities for youth and raising awareness about the consequences of joining armed groups.
• Justice and Accountability: There are differing approaches to justice for child soldiers, including restorative and retributive justice. Restorative justice focuses on rehabilitating individuals and addressing the conditions that led them to combat, while retributive justice emphasizes punishment for crimes committed.
• International Cooperation: International organizations, such as UNICEF and Human Rights Watch, play a crucial role in advocating for the rights of child soldiers and providing support for their rehabilitation and reintegration.

The recruitment of child soldiers by governmental armed forces

In Angola, both the government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) used child soldiers in the civil war that ended in April 2002. Child rights groups estimate that as many as 11,000 children were involved in the last years of the fighting, with some receiving weapons and arms training and others serving as porters, cooks, spies, and laborers. Despite national legislation prohibiting their conscription, the Angolan government rounded up and forced children to fight for the Angola Armed Forces (FAA) during recruitment drives in government-held areas. Boys served as fighters, mechanics, radio operators, and porters, while girls served as domestics, assistants, and "wives" to soldiers.

The use of children in armed conflict is in direct violation of Angolan and international law. Angola has obligations under the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which explicitly prohibits the use of children in armed conflict, as well as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which defines a child as any person under the age of 18. The Paris Principles further define a child associated with an armed force or group as:

> "...any person below 18 years of age who is or who has been recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity, including but not limited to children, boys and girls, used as fighters, cooks, porters, messengers, spies or for sexual purposes."

Despite these laws and definitions, child soldiers in Angola have been excluded from demobilization programs and denied access to government assistance. This is due in part to the current demobilization program's discrimination against children, who were not considered when deciding who received benefits. As a result, child soldiers have received no direct assistance or rehabilitation, and their rights have been jeopardized.

To address this issue, specific programs that provide rehabilitation tailored to the experiences of child soldiers are necessary. These programs should include psychological support, education, and vocational opportunities to help them rebuild their lives and reintegrate into civilian society. Additionally, the international community must pressure the Angolan government to fulfill its obligations to its citizens and provide for the care, protection, and reintegration of children affected by armed conflict.

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