EASF Hosts Regional Workshop on Preventing Recruitment of Child Soldiers in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, 24 November 2025 – The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Logistics Base in Addis Ababa has launched a three-day regional workshop aimed at strengthening efforts to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed violence. The training, held in partnership with the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, brings together representatives from EASF Member States and Staff.

Opening the workshop, LTC Commandant Col. Abdelrahim A. A. Hamad underscored the urgency of protecting children in conflict zones. He praised the Dallaire Institute for its “unwavering dedication” to preventing the use of child soldiers and emphasized the responsibility of peacekeepers to uphold international humanitarian and human rights law. “Child soldiers are not only victims of war; they are a tragic reflection of the breakdown of protection systems,” he said.

Col. Hamad added that the workshop seeks to strengthen officers’ readiness to identify risks, apply child-protection protocols, and engage communities effectively. “These are core responsibilities integral to mandates entrusted to us by the AU, the UN and our Member States,” he noted.

African Union representative Amb. Fred Gateretse highlighted the rising threats to children amid growing insecurity across the continent. He said the AU has adopted several normative frameworks and ensured the deployment of child-protection advisors within peace missions, but challenges remain in regions such as the Sahel, Libya, the DRC and the Horn of Africa. “Despite progress, children continue to be recruited,” he warned. 

Dallaire Institute Project Director Arsene Mukendi Tshidimu reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting African peace and security institutions. He emphasized that preventing grave violations against children requires a dual approach that strengthens both protection mechanisms and the operational capacity of security forces. A 2025 MoU between the AU and the Institute, he said, aims to enhance policy development, training and research to safeguard children across Africa.