A widely shared image from recent fighting in Kordofan appears to show a wounded fighter who looks under 18 serving with a pro-SAF allied battalion, sparking a fierce online debate over the use of children in Sudan’s war.
Commenters split blame between families and Port Sudan SAF junta for allowing minors to be drawn into combat.
The war between General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and the RSF, now in its second year, has intensified across Darfur and Kordofan, and both sides face documented allegations of recruiting and endangering children.
In June 2024, the United Nations added both SAF and its rivals to its annual global list of parties committing grave violations against children in conflict, noting a 480% year-on-year jump in reported violations in Sudan from 2022 to 2023.
The tally covers six categories: killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, recruitment and use, denial of humanitarian aid, and attacks on schools and hospitals.
