{"id":17047,"date":"2025-06-23T22:51:03","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T22:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/?p=17047"},"modified":"2025-06-24T07:05:38","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T07:05:38","slug":"somalia-removed-from-un-child-soldier-list-after-reforms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sooha.org\/en\/2025\/06\/23\/somalia-removed-from-un-child-soldier-list-after-reforms\/","title":{"rendered":"Somalia removed from UN child soldier list after reforms"},"content":{"rendered":"

MOGADISHU —<\/strong> The United Nations has officially removed Somalia from its list of countries implicated in the recruitment and use of child soldiers, marking a significant milestone in the country\u2019s efforts to comply with international child protection standards.<\/p>\n

The decision, announced on June 17, ends Somalia\u2019s long-standing designation on the annual UN blacklist and follows the implementation of a national action plan to prevent the involvement of minors in armed conflict.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe removal from the UN list reaffirms Somalia\u2019s dedication to upholding the Constitution and international humanitarian law,\u201d the Ministry of Defense\u00a0said in a statement. \u201cThe Somali child is not a soldier\u2014they are the future of this nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ministry credited sustained reforms and close collaboration with the United Nations and partner organizations, including UNICEF and the United Nations Transition Mission in Somalia (UNTSOM), as key to the country\u2019s removal from the list. Those reforms included child protection training, military code revisions, recruitment screening, and monitoring systems.<\/p>\n

Somalia had remained on the UN list since 2007, with past reports citing government-aligned militias and Somali security forces for using underage fighters. Rights groups repeatedly called for reforms and transparency.<\/p>\n

The Ministry of Defense, which chairs the Child Protection Committee, praised both government agencies and international partners for their contributions. The committee was instrumental in drafting policies aligned with Somalia\u2019s Constitution and international obligations, the ministry said.<\/p>\n

While the Somali government celebrated the move, officials acknowledged that threats remain from armed non-state actors like al-Shabaab, which continues to recruit children in areas under its control forcibly. Authorities pledged to strengthen community protections and monitoring to shield vulnerable youth.<\/p>\n

Somalia will remain under periodic UN review to ensure compliance. Officials say they are committed to preserving the gains made and preventing future violations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis milestone is a testament to Somalia\u2019s reform journey and a step forward for the credibility of its armed forces,\u201d the ministry said.<\/p>\n

Source: HOL\u00a0 \u00a0Origin: view original<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MOGADISHU — The United Nations has officially removed Somalia from its list of countries implicated in the recruitment and use of child soldiers, marking a significant milestone in the country\u2019s efforts to comply with international child protection standards. The decision, announced on June 17, ends Somalia\u2019s long-standing designation on the annual UN blacklist and follows …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17052,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-news","category-protection-cluster"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t