“Our Strength Is in Our Youth”

“Our Strength Is In Our Youth”: Child Recruitment and Use by Armed Groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2014 – 2017 © United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), January 2019

The report, Our Strength Is In Our Youth: Child Recruitment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2014-2017, is the product of staff of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), most particularly the Child Protection Section. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its Secretary-General.

This publication enjoys copyright under Protocol 2 of the Universal Copyright Convention. Nevertheless, organizations, governmental authorities or Member States may freely photocopy any part of this publication for exclusive use within their research and training institutes. However, no portion of this publication may be reproduced for sale or mass publication without the express consent, in writing, of the Child Protection Section, MONUSCO.

Any comments or questions concerning this publication may be addressed to:

Legal Affairs United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) 12 Av. des Aviateurs Kinshasa - Gombe Democratic Republic of the Congo

E-mail: monusco [email protected]

Photo credit: Richard Mosse

Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD 6

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 8

INTRODUCTION 12

MANDATE & METHODOLOGY 14

PART I: THE STATE OF CHILD RECRUITMENT IN THE DRC 18 PART II: IN DEPTH PROFILES OF THE TOP PERPETRATORS OF CHILD RECRUITMENT (2014-2017) 48 Before: How and Why Armed Groups Recruited Children 20 Hotspots: Where Children were Most at Risk of Recruitment from 2014 to 2017 21 FORCES DÉMOCRATIQUES DE LIBÉRATION DU RWANDA - FORCES COMBATTANTES ABACUNGUZI (FDLR FOCA) 52 Persistent Perpetrators: Which Armed Groups Recruited the Most Children from 2014 to 2017 24 How & Why Children Were Recruited by FDLR FOCA 54 Push Factors: Why Children Volunteered for Armed Groups 25 Life Inside FDLR FOCA 59 Revenge & Self-Defense: To “Save My People” 26 How Children Were Separated from FDLR FOCA 62 Economic Survival Strategy: To “Eat Meat Every Day” 26 NYATURA 66 Physical Survival Strategy: To Stay Alive 26 How & Why Children Were Recruited by Nyatura 68 Family & Peer Pressure: To “See My Friends in the Bush” 27 Life for Children Inside Nyatura 74 Political Ideology 27 How Children Were Separated from Nyatura 76 Pull Factors: Why Armed Groups Recruited Children 28 Boost Ranks: “Our strength is in our youth” 29 KAMUINA NSAPU 80 Loyal Fighters: To Fight for Our People 29 How & Why Children Were Recruited by Kamuina Nsapu 82 Cheap Labor: To Carry the Loot 29 Life Inside Kamuina Nsapu 88 Magic: To “Become Bulletproof” 29 How Children Were Separated from Kamuina Nsapu 93 Proof of Power: To Punish, Extort and Control Communities 29 The Trigger Violation: Abduction 30 RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 96 Re-Recruitment: The Revolving Door 32 How & Why Children Were Recruited by Rayia Mutomboki 98 During: Life as a Child Soldier in the DRC 34 Life Inside Rayia Mutomboki 102 The Boys & Girls Recruited by Armed Groups 35 How Children Were Separated from Rayia Mutomboki 106 Age 36 Sex 37 MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 110 Nationality 38 How & Why Children Were Recruited by Mayi Mayi Mazembe 112 Initiation Rites 38 Life Inside Mayi Mayi Mazembe 116 Children’s Roles in Armed Groups 39 How Children Were Separated from Mayi Mayi Mazembe 120 Combatants 39 FORCES DE RÉSISTANCE PATRIOTIQUE EN ITURI (FRPI) 124 Support Roles 40 How & Why Children were Recruited by FRPI 126 Violations Triggered by Child Recruitment 41 Life Inside FRPI 131 Sexual Violence 41 How Children Were Separated from FRPI 136 Killing & Maiming 41

After: How Children Were Separated from Armed Groups 42 NDUMA DEFENSE OF CONGO – Escape: “More suffering than happiness in the bush” 43 RÉNOVÉ GUIDON (NDC-RÉNOVÉ) 142 Why, How, & To Where 43 How & Why Children Were Recruited by NDC-Rénové 144 Voluntary Release by Armed Group Commanders 44 Life Inside NDC-Rénové 150 Surrender & Demobilization 45 How Children Were Separated from NDC-Rénové 154 Capture and Arrest by State Agents 46 Treatment of Detained Children by State Agents 46 Starting the Next Chapter: Healing & Returning Home 46

CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS 159

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 160

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ADF Allied Democratic Forces GA General Assembly ANR Agence Nationale de Renseignements HRDDP Human Rights Due Diligence Policy APCLS Alliance des Patriotes pour un Congo Libre ICC International Criminal Court et Souverain ICCN Institut Congolais pour la Conservation CAAC Children and Armed Conflict de la Nature CNRD Conseil National pour le Renouveau et la MARA Monitoring and Reporting Arrangement Démocratie MONUSCO United Nations Stabilization Mission in COB Company Operating Base the DRC CPS Child Protection Section NDC-Rénové Nduma Defense of Congo – Rénové CTF Country Task Force NGO Non-Governmental Organization DDR Disarmament Demobilization and PKM PK Machine Gun Reintegration POC Protection of Civilians DRC Democratic Republic of the Congo SMG Sub-Machine Gun ESMG Energized Sub-Machine Gun SRSG Special Representative of the Secretary- FARDC Forces armées de la République General démocratique du Congo RPG Rocket Propelled Grenades FDLR FOCA Forces Démocratiques de Libération UN United Nations du Rwanda – Forces Combattantes Abacunguzi UPDI Union des Patriotes pour la Défense des Innocents FDLR RUD Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda – Rally for Unity and Democracy USD United States Dollar Urunana FRPI Forces de Résistance Patriotique en Ituri

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 5 Foreword

FOREWORD

Six thousand children recruited by armed groups in the DRC is a statistic. A single boy or girl recruited is a tragedy. What we must never forget is that behind every statistic is a personal story of a nine-year-old boy or a fourteen-year-old girl being forced to witness, undergo and sometimes perpetrate atrocities.

As the saying goes, you can take the child out of the conflict, but it takes much longer to take the conflict out of the child. From small indignities, to hunger and illness, to shattering abuse, the months and years girls and boys spend in armed groups can carry lasting physical and psychological impact. Girls associated with armed groups more often than not survive rape, sexual slavery, or forced marriage to the very men who abduct them. Many girls find themselves pregnant or caring for their own small children, bearing stigma and rejection by their communities for affiliations most did not choose. Full rehabilitation of child survivors can take decades, even when resources are available. But that investment is worth it: One child released from an armed group could be the next Nelson Mandela.

Why is MONUSCO focusing on armed groups? Because it is armed groups that perpetrate this violation, no longer the Government. In fact, the Government has achieved a remarkable success: I congratulate the Government on ending child recruitment into its own ranks. As an FARDC General put it: “Zero tolerance for children in our army is in our blood now. It is irreversible”.

We welcome the support given to MONUSCO by the Government to communicate with armed groups and militia to stop and prevent child recruitment by their elements. As I write, MONUSCO is engaging with 30 armed group commanders with the aim of irreversible behavior change.

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Engaging with armed groups to release children from their ranks is also a crucial entry point for the Mission with these actors. Establishing contact with armed groups on child combatants can open the door, advancing broader, even more sensitive, peace discussions. We hope to generate the same willingness on the part of armed groups to delist children from their ranks as the DRC’s national army has shown. Our efforts so far are yielding encouraging results.

However, for those who resist, continuing to enlist children and perpetrating grave abuses against our most vulnerable members of society, they must know that these serious crimes will not go unpunished. Behind every recruited child is a perpetrator. As a judge, I know that, in the long run, there is no greater power than justice. For three years now, MONUSCO has supported Congolese military justice actors to prosecute these perpetrators, but too little progress has been made. Twelve perpetrators are behind bars awaiting trial, and only three have been tried and condemned. Compare this to the six thousand boy and girls recruited between 2014 and 2017. It simply is not enough: The adults who recruit boys and girls need to be brought to justice. Not tomorrow, today. A strong message must be sent: “Recruiting boys and girls is a crime under Congolese law. It is a war crime if the child is under 15 years of age. You will be brought to justice. There is no haven here for you.” We urge the Government of the DRC to work incessantly in bringing to justice perpetrators of this horrendous crime against the future of this country. MONUSCO stands ready to support you in these efforts.

This report is an appeal to our consciences to be as brave as the children who survived life in the bush. We must act to end child recruitment with the same urgency as if these were our own children and to rally to their sides with all the political will and resources that we, as members of the international community, can muster. Join me.

Leila Zerrougui Special Representative of the Secretary-General United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO)

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 7 Executive Summary

IN 17 YEARS OF UN MONITORING 51,000 GIRLS AND BOYS WERE SEPARATED FROM ARMED FORCES AND ARMED GROUPS

FROM 2014 - 2017 NO LESS THAN 49 ARMED GROUPS RECRUITED NO LESS THAN 5,619 BOYS & 549 GIRLS

REN IN TH ILD E DR CH C ST 20 IN 14 A -2 G 0 A 17 S B N Y IO P T E A R L P O E I T

V R

A E

V T

94% ILDREN T CH IN TH ARMED INS E D GA RC GROUPS A 2 S 0 N 14 IO - 6% STATE T 2 A 0 1 AGENTS L 7 O I B V Y

E T V Y

A P

R E

62% RECRUITMENT

13% 6% ATTACKS ABDUCTION ON HOSPITALS & SCHOOLS

10% KILLING & 9% SEXUAL MAIMING VIOLENCE

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Setting the Scene: Why issue this report now?

In 2017, the Forces Armées du République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) was certified by the United Nations (UN) as no longer recruiting children within its ranks and “de-listed” from the Annexes of the Secretary-General’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict, a blacklist for those responsible for committing violations against children. This was an extraordinary achievement that took whole-hearted commitment and years of hard work by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

With this achievement as the backdrop, MONUSCO is now turning to armed groups to foster a similar change in mindset to end child recruitment amongst all actors in the DRC. The central aim of MONUSCO’s Child Protection Section (CPS) is now to secure armed group commanders’ genuine commitment to release children and never recruit again. This report is but one part of the Mission’s reorientation toward this goal.

This report focuses on only seven armed groups for two simple reasons. First, these groups are the most persistent perpetrators on the UN Secretary General’s blacklist of parties to conflict responsible for recruiting large numbers of children. Second, MONUSCO has had access to these groups, enabling the UN to document the children they recruited. This second factor is crucial to verifying and monitoring child recruitment. In turn, this gives the Mission an accurate sense of the scale and character of each group’s child recruitment and opens the door to direct engagement with commanders to secure the release of children. Consider the armed groups profiled in this report as among the targets of phase one in the Mission’s efforts to end child recruitment in the DRC. Already in 2018, the Mission is engaging with more than 30 factions of these groups, resulting in the release of more than 444 children.

There are, however, other armed groups which are not profiled in detail in this report but that are known to be egregious offenders of international law. Such groups include the Allied Democratic Front (ADF), Mayi Mayi Yakutumba, Mayi Mayi Apa na Pale, and the Bana Mura militia, among others, all of which are known to recruit children and commit other violations. The challenge is that MONUSCO rarely has enough access to territory controlled by these groups in order to fully monitor and verify the violations they perpetrate or to engage with them to release children from their ranks. These armed groups will be the Mission’s phase two targets.

On est ensemble - La lutte continue.

Between 2014 and 2017, 6,168 children were separated from armed groups and militia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and hundreds more are believed to still be among their ranks. This report demonstrates that child recruitment is not just devastating for the individual child, but has a long-term impact on families, communities and social cohesion across the DRC. Above all, it is a severe threat to Congolese national security. Progress has been made in decreasing child recruitment through national and local awareness- raising campaigns, engagement with armed group commanders, and holding perpetrators accountable, but a concerted and targeted effort from the Government, UN, civil society and donors is needed to eliminate child recruitment from every corner of the DRC.

Globally, the DRC has one of the highest rates of child recruitment.1 Between 2014 and 2017, the UN documented 6,168 children (549 girls, 5,619 boys) recruited by 49 different armed groups or militia.2 While many groups were small-time recruiters, 72% of all child recruitment was perpetrated by just 10 armed groups. This report profiles the top seven of these perpetrators: FDLR FOCA, Nyatura, Kamuina Nsapu, Rayia Mutomboki, Mayi Mayi Mazembe, FRPI, and NDC-Rénové.3

Nationally, child recruitment decreased by 50% over the past four years, however regional analysis showed an exponential increase in child recruitment in the Kasais, where conflict broke out in 2016 and 2017. Nevertheless, North Kivu remained the epicenter of child recruitment and was the site of 75% of all cases documented from 2014 to 2017. On average, 30% of all children recruited by armed groups were under the age of 15, 9% were girls, and 99% were Congolese.4 With land borders on eight countries and a ninth across Lake Tanganyika, the DRC saw low but steady levels of cross-border child recruitment from Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Central African Republic, and Kenya.

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The first chapter in children’s experience of recruitment began before ever setting foot in a training camp. Child recruitment rarely resulted from a single factor. Rather, a complex cocktail of push and pull factors came into play. Children’s agency in the decisions that led them to armed groups cannot be overlooked. Approximately a quarter of children recruited by the top seven perpetrators joined voluntarily. However, these children were frequently under contextual duress, taking what was at the time the only viable option available. Broadly categorized, push factors that drove children to volunteer included revenge and self-defense of their ethnic group, economic and physical survival, family or peer pressure, and political or other ideologies. Likewise, the pull factors that motivated commanders to recruit children included boosting ranks, securing cheap labor and loyal fighters, securing magical protection, and exerting control over communities. For the three quarters of children who were forcibly recruited, the most common method of recruitment was abduction, a violation in its own right. Indeed, child recruitment was the purpose of 70% all child abductions documented by the UN since 2014. Moreover, where child recruitment was endemic, as in North Kivu, children who escaped from armed groups lived with the near-constant fear of re-recruitment. Among the top perpetrators of child recruitment, at least 3% of children – almost exclusively boys – were re-recruited by the same or other armed groups.5

The second chapter of a child recruitment – life inside an armed group – began with a child’s initiation. In many communities across the DRC, magic is perceived to be real and a part of the fabric of daily life. This powerful patchwork of animistic beliefs carried over to the culture and practices of many armed groups, such as Kamuina Nsapu, NDC-Rénové, and Mayi Mayi Mazembe. These groups performed elaborate initiation rituals to sanctify children with protective powers and to “transform” mundane objects into weapons. Children were not just objects of magic but subjects wielding its powers. In the East, the role of witchdoctor, known as fétisheur or kadogo dawa, was frequently played by young boys, whose youth and virginity were believed to fortify their protective powers.

An average of 31% of children, predominantly but not exclusively boys, fought on the frontlines. Girls were more a more common sight on the frontlines in recent years, jumping from 1% of child combatants in 2014 to 34% in 2017, due to the high numbers of girl combatants used by Kamuina Nsapu. In fact, the national increase in the use of children as combatants from 18% of all children recruited in 2014 to 51% of those in 2017 was strongly influenced by Kamuina Nsapu’s use of 88% of its children as fighters. Despite gendered stereotypes of the child soldier as a boy with a gun, 69% of children recruited and used by armed groups in the DRC since 2014 never saw battle. They performed the invisible labor of looting food, collecting water and wood, cooking and cleaning, manning checkpoints, collecting taxes, carrying belongings and weapons from camp to camp, carefully logging new recruits and ammunition supplies, or “marrying” commanders.

Just as abduction facilitated children’s recruitment, child recruitment served as a gateway to other violations. At least 56% of all girls recruited since 2014 disclosed experiencing rape, sexual slavery, or forced marriage at the hands of their recruiters and their comrades. These rates were far higher for girls recruited by the top perpetrators, including 92% of all girls recruited by FRPI. While 95% of sexual violence survivors were girls, 5% of boys also disclosed similar experiences, a figure considered to drastically underrepresent the real scale of such violence against boys for reasons related to cultural perceptions of gender roles and stigma. Hand in hand with high rates of child combatants came the risk of death and injury during hostilities. While statistics remain elusive, children’s testimonies point to significant child casualties, particularly in the Kasais.

The third and final chapter of child recruitment was children’s separation from armed groups, which came in a wide variety of ways broadly categorized into escape, arrest or capture by State agents, voluntary release, and surrender or demobilization. The vast majority - 67% - of all children recruited by the top perpetrators fled, with boys and girls escaping at roughly equal rates. Children fled in the direction of safety, wherever it could be found, whether in regional capitals, home villages, local NGOs, clergy, or MONUSCO military bases, where 10% of all children recruited by the top perpetrators sought safety.

At least one in ten children recruited by the top perpetrators were captured or arrested by authorities for their association with armed groups, with higher rates of detention documented among children associated with armed groups openly opposed to the Government, like FRPI, Kamuina Nsapu, or FDLR FOCA. Boys were more than twice as likely as girls to be detained. Conditions of detention were universally poor, as was treatment of detained children. Only 9% of all children recruited by the top seven perpetrators were voluntarily released by their commanders. This scenario was more likely for girls than boys, with 16% of all girls released. Even fewer – 8% of all recruited children - surrendered to the FARDC or were demobilized with the support of MONUSCO, with roughly equal rates seen among boys and girls. Surrenders were usually linked to political processes, with children surrendering from FRPI during bright spots in negotiations with the Government and children in Kamuina Nsapu demobilizing en masse after concerted outreach.

With a child’s escape, release or demobilization from armed groups or release from detention, often with the assistance of the MONUSCO Child Protection Section, the third chapter of his or her experience as a child soldier closed. These boys and girls then began the next chapter of civilian life, living in UNICEF partners’ transitional care while families were traced and the process of healing physically and emotionally began.

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Ultimately, it is only through grasping and addressing the micro-patterns in child recruitment, rather than blunt national trends, that tailored engagement, prevention and response can make a discernable impact on ending child recruitment. This report leaves us with these lessons:

• Child recruitment entails complex and compounding violations.

• Targeted communication with armed groups can ebb the tide.

• Prosecution of perpetrators can send a powerful prevention message.

Taking on board these lessons, we can and must take targeted and strategic action. We recommend:

The Government of the DRC:

• Facilitate the work of the UN Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting regarding engagement with armed groups operating in the DRC to develop action plans to end and prevent all violations and abuses against children, including the multiple violations linked to child recruitment;

• Release all children held in detention for alleged association with armed groups to MONUSCO as they are not criminally liable under Law No. 09/001 on the Protection of the Child, end detention and ill-treatment of children on this allegation, and expedite the distribution of Attestation de Sortis to all children formerly associated with armed groups to ensure children receive them in a timely manner and on an equal basis.

• Put an end to impunity by swiftly bringing all perpetrators of child recruitment and use, as well as sexual violence, to justice and hold them accountable, as such acts are prohibited and criminalized by Law No. 09/001 on the Protection of the Child, which was adopted on 10 January 2009 and which includes recruitment and use of children by national armed forces or non-State armed groups; and

Armed group commanders:

• Immediately and without preconditions release all children – boys and girls under age 18 – in your ranks and take concrete actions to end prevent child recruitment and use by any member of your group in the future, including via abduction or for the purpose of sexual violence;

• Publicly express your commitment to ending and prevent all grave violations against children, including but not limited to child recruitment and use, and swiftly develop, adopt and implement road maps in line with UN Security Council resolutions 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), and subsequent resolutions.

Donors:

• Commit necessary funds to support holistic and sustainable child demobilization and reintegration, and the fight against impunity for perpetrators of child recruitment and use.

• Support designated child protection capacity in MONUSCO, including via secondment.

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Introduction

Armed Groups Armed Stage Agents Stage

FROM 1 JANUARY 2014 NORD UBANGI BAS UÉLÉ HAUT UÉLÉ TO 31 DECEMBER 2017 SUD UBANGI 4,059 MONGALA 6,168 ITURI CASES FROM THE TSHOPO TOTAL DOCUMENTED ÉQUATEUR TOP 7 PERPETRATORS AND VERIFIED CASES NORD OF CHILD TSHUAPA KIVU 2,109 RECRUITMENT MAÏ NDOMBE

SANKURU SUD CASES FROM OTHER KIVU PERPETRATORS MANIEMA KINSHASA KASAI KWILU

KONGO CENTRAL KASAI CENTRAL LOMAMI KASAI ORIENTAL TANGANYIKA KWANGO

HAUT LOMAMI

LUALABA HAUT KATANGA

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INTRODUCTION

Armed groups committed 94% of all grave violations against children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from 2014 to 2017, and, of these, 62% constituted child recruitment, making recruitment and use by armed groups the greatest threat to children in the context of the conflict.6 In the 17 years that the United Nations (UN) has monitored grave violations against children linked to the conflict in the DRC, 51,000 girls and boys were separated from armed forces and groups.7 With 49 distinct armed groups and militia documented as recruiting no fewer than 5,619 boys and 549 girls between 2014 and 2017, child recruitment in the DRC defies convenient categories. Daunting as these numbers may be, they are an understatement: These are only the children who are visible to the international community by virtue of being separated from armed groups by the UN and its partners.

Child recruitment and use is not a generic violation. It is a This report addresses both the personal and the political by deeply personal violation, with no boy or girl enduring the same blending testimonies of children formerly associated with indignities as another. Nor is it an isolated violation, as it can armed groups with data analysis to inform results-based last weeks, months or years and can precipitate a wave of other strategies to target top perpetrators of child recruitment and violations such as rape, killing, maiming, ill treatment and forced use. Designed to walk the reader through a child’s experience commitment of atrocities. The impact lasts long after a child in an armed group, Part I of this report highlights children’s is recruited and ripples outward, affecting communities that agency and ingenuity, and compares trends among armed have lost their children and fear violence partly perpetrated by groups’ diverse modi operandi in three chronological sections: children or by adults who were once child soldiers themselves. 1. Before, 2. During, and 3. After Recruitment. Part II includes Even once separated from armed groups, children live in detailed profiles of the top seven armed groups responsible for constant fear of re-recruitment at nearly any time. recruiting the most children from 2014 to 2017. Taken together, its findings aim to arm UN, Government of the DRC and other Considered an international peace and security issue by the UN actors with the information necessary to tailor interventions to Security Council since 1999, child recruitment is inextricably help end child recruitment in the DRC, one armed group after linked to the conflict dynamics in the DRC.8 It is a conflict another. multiplier, adding to armed groups’ strength in numbers, and perpetuating violence by inculcating young recruits with narratives of collective loss, victimhood, injustice, toxic masculinity, and ethnic land claims, training the next generation to fight rather than study, build a business or raise a family.

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MANDATE & METHODOLOGY

The Children & Armed Conflict Mandate

In 1996, the UN Secretary-General received a groundbreaking report on the impact of armed conflict on children from his expert, Graça Machel. The UN General Assembly (GA) responded with Resolution 51/77 (1996), giving the UN Special-Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict a mandate to serve as the leading UN advocate for all children affected by armed conflict.9

The Security Council followed shortly thereafter to craft the DRC, the Country Task Force (CTF), which is co-chaired by the mandate on children and armed conflict (CAAC), including the MONUSCO Special Representative of the Secretary-General mandate’s mechanisms and tools established in resolutions 1261 (SRSG) and the UNICEF Country Representative, monitors (1999), 1314 (2000), 1379 (2001), 1460 (2003), 1539 (2004), and reports on the six grave violations covered by the MRM: 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011), 2068 (2012), 2143 (2014), Recruitment and use, killing and maiming, sexual violence, and 2225 (2015). The landmark Resolution 1612 (2005) created abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) to collect humanitarian access. timely and reliable information on violations committed against children by parties to the conflict, as well as the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC). In the

MONUSCO Child Protection Section

The United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) is mandated to:

Take fully into account child protection as a crosscutting issue throughout its mandate and to assist the Government of the DRC in ensuring that the protection of children’s rights is taken into account, inter alia, in DDR processes and in SSR as well as during interventions leading to the separation of children from armed groups in order to end and prevent violations and abuses against children; 10

As the Mission’s resident experts on CAAC, the Child Protection and response strategies. In addition to the above mandates, CPS Section (CPS) separates children from armed groups, releases is also guided by the UN Policy on the Mainstreaming of the them from detention, serves as a bridge for boys’ and girls’ access Protection of Children in UN Peacekeeping (2017).11 to child DDR, psychosocial and family reunification services from UNICEF partners, and analyzes trends to inform prevention

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Ensuring a Whole-of-MONUSCO Effort to Protect Children

CPS ensures that MONUSCO’s Protection of Civilians Section to raise awareness in communities about the risks (POC) mandate translates into all of MONUSCO’s of child recruitment and to separate children. components protecting children. Key in-mission partners serve as extended “eyes on the ground”. With civilian With uniformed components, CPS collaborates with components, CPS partners with the Joint Human Rights UNPOL’s Serious & Organized Crime Unit on the use of Office to investigate violations, implement the Human children by armed groups in illicit activities such as natural Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) and support justice resources, and works with the Force to implement the for victims, and with the Senior Women Protection Advisor Force Commander’s Directive on Protection of Children to monitor and report on sexual violence in conflict. by MONUSCO Force (2017), and analyzing intelligence Other key civilian partners include the Justice Support to support engagement with armed group commanders. Section’s Prosecution Support Cells to fight against A cornerstone of this collaboration is training Brigade- impunity for perpetrators of grave violations against level Gender & Child Protection Focal Points, officers and children, the Security Sector Reform Section to build the contingent members on how to protect children during capacity of State security agents through training, and the tactical and strategic operations Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR)

Protection & Prevention

CPS maintains the trusted relationships necessary to so that the Government is equipped to screen children out prevent and respond to grave violations against children from its own recruits. Raising awareness among remote at the highest levels – advocating with senior Government communities of the risks of child recruitment is also and military officials, ensuring parties to conflict vacate key to fostering behavior change and preventing child schools, securing access to hidden detention cells, and recruitment in the long term. training state security forces on age assessment procedures

Engagement with State & Non-State Parties to Conflict

CPS is uniquely positioned to engage politically with all de-listed from the Secretary-General’s Annual Report on parties to the conflict – whether state or non-state actors Children and Armed Conflict in 2017. Engagement with the – to end violations against children, most critically child worst perpetrators of recruitment among armed groups recruitment. It was through engagement that, in 2012, can help bring an end to child soldiering. CPS’s direct the Government of DRC signed an Action Plan to halt engagement with armed group commanders is bearing and prevent child recruitment and sexual violence; it was fruit and paving the way for a change in their modus through engagement that the FARDC undertook a top- operandi, e.g. securing the release of children, both those to-bottom change in its recruitment practices and was abducted and those recruited voluntarily.

Fight Against Impunity

Child recruitment has been prohibited under Congolese The project includes training jurists, supporting joint law since 2009.12 However, the law was not implemented investigations and mobile courts, identifying and until November 2014, when the first arrest warrant for a protecting child victims, and technical advice to military perpetrator of child recruitment, Cobra Matata the former prosecutors. leader of FRPI, was issued following advocacy from CPS. Since July 2016, CPS has implemented a project to support the Congolese authorities in specifically targeting child recruiters, with funds from the Belgian Government.

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Mandate & Methodology Armed Groups Armed

Scope & MethodologyAgents Stage

This report covers the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December The scope of this report is limited to the conflict-related 2017. Its results are based on data analysis of 6,168 UN-verified violation of child recruitment and use, and therefore the report’s FROM 1 JANUARY 2014 NORD UBANGI BAS UÉLÉ HAUT UÉLÉ cases of child recruitment, which occurred duringTO 31 this DECEMBER four-year 2017 geographic SUD scope is limited to conflict-affected provinces to UBANGI period and which were documented by the UN Country Task which the UN has access, namely Ituri, Kasai, Kasai Central, 4,059 MONGALA Force (CTF) before 21 February 2018. Of these, 4,0596,168 case notes Kasai Oriental, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tanganyika.ITURI CASES FROM THE TSHOPO TOTAL DOCUMENTED ÉQUATEUR of childrenTOP recruited 7 PERPETRATORS by the top seven perpetrators of child AND VERIFIED CASES NORD recruitment (Forces Démocratiques de Libération OFdu CHILDRwanda- Limitations includeTSHUAPA the restricted capacity ofKIVU the UN and partners Forces Combattantes Abacunguzi2,109 (FDLR FOCA),RECRUITMENT Nyatura, to verify all allegations reported, particularly in the Kasais. The MAÏ NDOMBE

SANKURU SUD Kamuina Nsapu,CASES Rayia Mutomboki, FROM OTHER Mayi Mayi Mazembe, Forces data may be strongly influenced by MONUSCO’sKIVU presence in PERPETRATORS MANIEMA de Résistance Patriotique en Ituri (FRPI), and Nduma Defense KINSHASAand greater access to areas near urban centers and MONUSCO KASAI KWILU

KONGO CENTRAL KASAI of Congo – Rénové (NDC-Rénové)) were individually reviewed. offices/bases, particularlyCENTRAL in North Kivu. Security, logistical and LOMAMI KASAI ORIENTAL TANGANYIKA human KWANGOresources constraints notably limited MONUSCO and All data in this report is disaggregated by sex and all significant UN actors’ access to more rural areas or provinces, such as HAUT LOMAMI differences (e.g. of 10% or more) between boys and girls are Maniema or more isolated areas of North and South Kivu, as well

LUALABA HAUT noted in the text. Where no distinction is made between boys as the Kasais. Finally, stigma amongKATANGA girls formerly associated and girls, it can be assumed that the rates of a particular lens with armed groups and boy survivors of sexual violence likely of analysis are similar for boys and girls. All cases were verified diminished the numbers of girls associated with armed groups by the CTF in individual interviews conducted by trained child and cases of sexual violence against both girls and boys that protection staff with children formerly associated with armed could be documented. groups, under the standards of the MRM.13 This report does not include unverified allegations nor does it include cases of children recruited prior to 1 January 2014 who were separated after that date.

Definitions

This report applies the definitions set out in the Paris Principles14:

Child recruitment: The compulsory, forced and voluntary conscription or enlistment of children into any kind of armed force or armed group.

Child associated with an armed force or group: 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. It does not only refer to a child who is taking or has taken a direct part in hostilities.

Endnotes

1 In 2017, the DRC had the fourth highest rate of and maiming, abduction, attacks on schools and 12 Government of the Democratic Republic of the child recruitment globally, following Somalia, South hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access. Congo, Loi No. 09/001, Loi portant Protection de Sudan and Nigeria. See United Nations, Annual l’Enfant, 25 May 2009, Articles 53(b) and 162. The Report of the Secretary-General on Children and 7 This report is limited to conflict-related violations crime of child recruitment or use carries a penalty of Armed Conflict, UN Doc. S/2018/465. against children and as such is limited to con- 10 to 20 years’ imprisonment. flict-affected provinces to which the UN has access, 2 All cases were documented by the UN Country namely: Ituri, Kasai, Kasai Central, Kasai Oriental, 13 For verification standards, see United Nations, Task Force on Children and Armed Conflict, including North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tanganyika. MRM Guidelines and Field Manual, June 2014, avail- MONUSCO CPS, JHRO and UNICEF partners. able at http://www.mrmtools.org/mrm/. 8 United Nations Security Council, Resolution 1261 3 Statistics that refer to “top perpetrators” refer to (1999), UN Doc. S/RES/1261, 30 August 1999. See 14 UNICEF, Paris Principles: Principles and Guidelines statistics among children recruited by these seven also Resolution 1379 (2001), UN Doc. S/RES/1379, 20 on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Armed armed groups. November 2001. Groups, February 2007, Section 2, page 7.

4 See UNICEF, Paris Principles: Principles and Guide- 9 For information on the CAAC mandate and the lines on Children Associated with Armed Forces or Office of the SRSG-CAAC, see www.childrenan- Armed Groups, February 2007, Section 2.1, page 7. darmedconflict.org .

5 Note that this is likely an under-estimate given 10 United Nations Security Council, Un Doc. S/ that data on re-recruitment only began to be collect- RES/2409 (2018), 27 March 2018, OP 38, see also ed in 2017. 36(ii)b, 37(i)b-d.

6 United Nations, Report of the Secretary-General 11 United Nations, Department of Peacekeeping Op- on Children and Armed Conflict in the Democratic erations, Department of Field Support, and Depart- Republic of the Congo, UN Doc. S/2018/502, 25 May ment of Political Affairs, Policy on the Mainstreaming 2018. The UN Country Task Force monitors six grave of the Protection of Children in UN Peacekeeping, violations: Child recruitment, sexual violence, killing Ref. 2017.11, 1 June 2017.

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PUSH FACTORS PULL FACTORS THAT DROVE CHILDREN TO THAT MOTIVATED ARMED VOLUNTEER TO JOIN GROUP COMMANDERS TO ARMED GROUPS: RECRUIT CHILDREN:

REVENGE & ETHNIC BOOST RANKS SELF-DEFENSE CHEAP LABOR ECONOMIC SURVIVAL LOYAL FIGHTERS PHYSICAL SURVIVAL MAGICAL FAMILY & PEER PROTECTION PRESSURE CONTROL POLITICAL & OTHER COMMUNITIES IDEOLOGIES

P. 18 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART I: The State of Child Recruitment in the DRC

PUSH PULL

REVENGE & BOOST RANKS ETHNIC With 49 armed groups or militia documented as recruiting children across at least 10 provinces spanning SELF-DEFENSE nearly the size of Western Europe, CHEAPno single LABOR child recruited by an armed group in the DRC had the same ECONOMIC experience. Nor were the reasons andLOYAL ways that armed groups recruited and used children identical. SURVIVAL FIGHTERS

PHYSICAL Understanding the diversity of, as well asMAGICAL patterns in, child rather than blunt national trends, that tailored engagement, SURVIVAL recruitment by armed groups including theirPROTECTION motives, means prevention and response can make a discernable impact on FAMILY & PEER and methods, and children’s experiencesCONTROL before, during and ending child recruitment. PRESSURE after recruitment – as told to child protectionCOMMUNITIES staff – is essential. POLITICAL & OTHER Trends emerge more coherently when analyzed through the IDEOLOGIES lens of regional, provincial and ethnic divides. It is only through grasping and addressing the micro-patterns in child recruitment,

PUSH FACTORS PULL FACTORS THAT DROVE CHILDREN TO THAT MOTIVATED ARMED VOLUNTEER TO JOIN GROUP COMMANDERS TO ARMED GROUPS: RECRUIT CHILDREN:

REVENGE & ETHNIC BOOST RANKS SELF-DEFENSE CHEAP LABOR 6,168ECONOMIC SURVIVAL CHILDREN RECRUITED SINCE 2014 LOYAL FIGHTERS PHYSICAL SURVIVAL 100 MAGICAL FAMILY & PEER PROTECTION35% PRESSURE UNDER AGE 15 80 CONTROL9% POLITICAL & OTHER COMMUNITIESGIRLS 60 IDEOLOGIES 35% 2% UNDER AGE 15 FOREIGN-BORN 40

20 9% GIRLS

0 2% FOREIGN-BORN 5,619 549 2% Boys Girls FOREIGN-BORN 9% GIRLS 35% UNDER AGE 15

6,168 CHILDREN RECRUITED

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2000 CHILDREN NORD UBANGI 2000 BAS UÉLÉ HAUT UÉLÉ SUD UBANGI

MONGALA The Kasais ITURI

TSHOPO ÉQUATEUR 355 CHILDREN RECRUITED UPWARD TREND

NORD TSHUAPA KIVU

MAÏ NDOMBETanganyika and Haut-Katanga SANKURU SUD 1500 CHILDREN KIVU , MANIEMA 4 609 CHILDREN RECRUITED 1500 75% KINSHASA KASAI KWILU

KONGO CENTRAL KASAI CENTRAL DOWNWARD TREND LOMAMI KASAI ORIENTAL TANGANYIKA KWANGO Ituri and Haut-Uélé

HAUT LOMAMI 6%

LUALABA HAUT KATANGA 387 CHILDREN RECRUITED

1000 CHILDREN 1000 Sud-Kivu UPWARD TREND

North Kivu

379CHILDREN RECRUITED CHILDREN 68CHILDREN RECRUITED RECRUITED 4,609 FROMNord-Kivu 2014-2017 Kasai Region

CHILDREN 500 CHILDREN RECRUITED 500 619 FROM 2014-2017 1% South Kivu DOWNWARD TREND

CHILDREN RECRUITED 387 FROM 2014-2017 Ituri & the Uélés

CHILDREN RECRUITED 188 FROM 2014-2017

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 Tanganyika & Haut Katanga

CHILDREN 2014 2015 2016 2017 RECRUITED 35 FROM 2014-2017

P. 20 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART I: Before: How and Why Armed Group Recruited Children

Hotspots: Where Children were Most at Risk of Recruitment from 2014 to 2017

Child recruitment has mirrored the conflict, with recruitment hotspots often foretelling the conflict’s next frontline. Two divergent regional trends are clear: The 68% decrease in child recruitment in the East from 2,085 in 2014 to 670 in 2017 being nearly overshadowed by the exponential surge in child recruitment in the Kasai region from zero in 2015 to 379 in 2017. In fact, this one and a half year period in a single region made up 10% of all children recruited and used in the DRC since 2014.

North Kivu Ituri16 & the Uélés

Despite a steady decrease, 75% - more than 4,600 – of all children In Ituri, child recruitment remained at a steady simmer on recruited in the DRC since 2014 were recruited in North Kivu. par with South Kivu, with 6% (355 boys and girls) of all child Why? A combination of factors, including the long-standing recruitment cases occurring in the province due to consistent nature of the conflict that diminished protective factors, like FRPI recruitment. In years past, circa 2011, former Province weakened family or community structures, increasing familial Orientale, now Haut Uélé and Bas Uélé, was a hotspot for LRA links to armed groups, parental death, displacement and low recruitment. But, by 2015, children recruited by LRA dwindled to levels of school attendance. As these protections faded, the single digits, reflecting the group’s embattled status. In late 2017, conflict was fueled by one of the highest concentration of armed inter-ethnic violence between Hema and Lendu communities groups in the DRC, the province’s heterogeneous ethnic map, raised concerns about possible recruitment of children however years of tit-for-tat reprisals, fast-shifting fault-lines between no cases were documented. commanders, and the intensity of FARDC operations, which depleted armed groups’ ranks. The province’s five territories – Rutshuru, Masisi, Walikale, Lubero and Beni – each served Tanganyika & Haut Katanga17 as epicenters of child recruitment, with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) claiming Beni, Mayi Mayi Mazembe in Lubero, Another past hotspot for child recruitment, former Katanga and a host of the top recruiters – FDLR FOCA, Nyatura, Rayia Province now Tanganyika and Haut Katanga provinces, saw Mutomboki, NDC-Cheka, NDC-Rénové, APCLS – and smaller lower levels of child recruitment – just 1% (68 boys and girls) of contenders dueling over natural resources and mineral-rich land all children recruited – as Mayi Mayi Kata Katanga faded away in Petit Nord. The political aims of some of these groups, like between 2014 and 2015. However, ethnic violence between Twa the FDLR FOCA, further complicated the conflict dynamics in and Luba militia, as well as Mayi Mayi Yakutumba’s increasingly North Kivu. To note, however, the UN was also better placed to bold moves, made Tanganyika an emerging hotspot of child document cases more systematically in North Kivu than in other recruitment in 2017.18 provinces due to its more extensive presence in the province.

South Kivu Kasai Region19

Compared to North Kivu, a fraction– just 6% - of all of the In 2016, conflict erupted in the Kasais, where child recruitment children recruited and used by armed groups in the DRC were jumped from zero in 2015, to 266 children recruited in 2016, recruited in South Kivu, but this still amounts to 387 boys and and again to 379 children in 2017, before declining again in girls recruited by Rayia Mutomboki, Nyatura, and Mayi Mayi 2018.20 Due to security and logistical constraints, allegations of Yakutumba factions. In 2015, child recruitment in South Kivu, recruitment and use of over 2,000 girls and boys by Kamuina predominantly in Kalehe and Shabunda (adjacent to North Kivu) Nsapu and other militia, including the Tshokwe-based Bana and Uvira (adjacent to Burundi), peaked, the latter of which may Mura, have yet to be verified. It is estimated that children may have been linked to the electoral violence in Burundi. In 2017, make up to 60% of Kamuina Nsapu’s ranks. recruitment also picked up under Mayi Mayi Yakutumba as its coalition grew beyond Fizi Territory, and consolidated control in southern Shabunda Territory and southeast Maniema and northern Tanganyika Provinces.

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Hotspots: Where Children were Most at Risk of Recruitment from 2014 to 2017

CHILD RECRUITMENT BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DR CONGO FROM 2014 TO 2017

CENTRAL AFRICAN SOUTH SUDAN REPUBLIC

Gbadolite Nord-Ubangi Bas-Uele Gemena Haut-Uele Buta Sud-Ubangi Isiro Lisala Mongala Ituri Bunia

Equateur Kisangani UGANDA Tshopo GABON Mbandaka Boende CONGO Tshuapa Nord-Kivu

Goma Inongo RWANDA

Mai-Ndombe ! Bukavu Kindu Bandundu ! Maniema Sud-Kivu Sankuru BURUNDI

Kinshasa !^ Kinshasa Kenge Kwilu Kasai Lusambo TANZANIA Kongo Central Kasai Matadi Lomami Kalemie Kananga Oriental Kwango Tshikapa Mbuji-Mayi Kabinda Tanganyika Kasai Central

Haut-Lomami

ANGOLA Kamina Lualaba

0 125 250 500 Kolwezi Kilometers Haut-Katanga Lubumbashi

UNITED NATIONS Number of Children Recruited: Country Capital International Boundary < 10 ^! Province Capital Province Boundary ZAMBIA 10-50

Source: MONUSCO Child Protection, June 2018 50-100 Disclaimer: This product is conﬁdential and exclusive property of United Nations MONUSCO. It should neither be disseminated nor sold outside MONUSCO. This product is designed for MONUSCO operational requirements. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply o cial 100-150 endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. 150-250 250-500

500-1000

1000-1500 > 1500

P. 22 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART I: Before: How and Why Armed Group Recruited Children

CHILD RECRUITMENT IN 2014 CHILD RECRUITMENT IN 2015

CENTRAL CENTRAL AFRICAN SOUTH SUDAN AFRICAN SOUTH SUDAN REPUBLIC REPUBLIC

Gbadolite Gbadolite Nord-Ubangi Nord-Ubangi Bas-Uele Bas-Uele Gemena Haut-Uele Gemena Haut-Uele Buta Buta Sud-Ubangi Isiro Sud-Ubangi Isiro Lisala Lisala Mongala Mongala Ituri Bunia Ituri Bunia

Equateur Kisangani UGANDA Equateur Kisangani UGANDA Tshopo Tshopo GABON Mbandaka Boende GABON Mbandaka Boende CONGO CONGO Tshuapa Nord-Kivu Tshuapa Nord-Kivu

Goma Goma Inongo Inongo RWANDA RWANDA

Mai-Ndombe ! Bukavu Mai-Ndombe ! Bukavu Kindu Kindu Bandundu Bandundu ! Maniema Sud-Kivu ! Maniema Sud-Kivu Sankuru BURUNDI Sankuru BURUNDI

Kinshasa Kinshasa ^! ^! Kinshasa Kenge Kinshasa Kenge Kwilu Kasai Lusambo Kwilu Kasai Lusambo TANZANIA TANZANIA Kongo Central Kongo Central Kasai Kasai Matadi Lomami Kalemie Matadi Lomami Kalemie Kananga Oriental Kananga Oriental Kwango Tshikapa Mbuji-Mayi Kabinda Tanganyika Kwango Tshikapa Mbuji-Mayi Kabinda Tanganyika Kasai Kasai Central Central

Haut-Lomami Haut-Lomami

ANGOLA Kamina ANGOLA Kamina Lualaba Lualaba

0 125 250 500 0 125 250 500 Kolwezi Kolwezi Kilometers Kilometers Haut-Katanga Haut-Katanga Lubumbashi Lubumbashi

ZAMBIA ZAMBIA

CHILD RECRUITMENT IN 2016 CHILD RECRUITMENT IN 2017

CENTRAL CENTRAL AFRICAN SOUTH SUDAN AFRICAN SOUTH SUDAN REPUBLIC REPUBLIC

Gbadolite Gbadolite Nord-Ubangi Nord-Ubangi Bas-Uele Bas-Uele Gemena Haut-Uele Gemena Haut-Uele Buta Buta Sud-Ubangi Isiro Sud-Ubangi Isiro Lisala Lisala Mongala Mongala Ituri Bunia Ituri Bunia

Equateur Kisangani UGANDA Equateur Kisangani UGANDA Tshopo Tshopo GABON Mbandaka Boende GABON Mbandaka Boende CONGO CONGO Tshuapa Nord-Kivu Tshuapa Nord-Kivu

Goma Goma Inongo Inongo RWANDA RWANDA

Mai-Ndombe ! Bukavu Mai-Ndombe ! Bukavu Kindu Kindu Bandundu Bandundu ! Maniema Sud-Kivu ! Maniema Sud-Kivu Sankuru BURUNDI Sankuru BURUNDI

Haut-Lomami Haut-Lomami

ANGOLA Kamina ANGOLA Kamina Lualaba Lualaba

0 125 250 500 0 125 250 500 Kolwezi Kolwezi Kilometers Kilometers Haut-Katanga Haut-Katanga Lubumbashi Lubumbashi

ZAMBIA ZAMBIA

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Persistent Perpetrators: Which Armed Groups Recruited the Most Children from 2014 to 2017

An indication of the complexity of child recruitment in the DRC was the sheer number of perpetrators: 49 distinct armed groups, militias or unidentified armed elements were found responsible for child recruitment and use from 2014 to 2017. Twenty-three of these groups were small-time recruiters, recruiting fewer than 25 children each over these years. By contrast, 72% of all children in the DRC were recruited by just 10 perpetrators.21

Part II of this report profiles the top seven of these armed groups:

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Push Factors: Why Children Volunteered for Armed Groups22

Children’s agency in the decisions that led them to armed groups cannot be overlooked. Approximately a quarter of children joined the top seven perpetrators voluntarily. The push factors that made belonging to an armed group in the DRC palatable to a child included a host of entirely rational and emotional reasons. That said, these decisions were not made in a vacuum. Rather, children were under contextual duress, taking what was at times the only viable option available in communities otherwise mired in poverty and security vacuums. Nevertheless, by virtue of their age, children can neither fully consent to nor be held responsible for their voluntary recruitment. That responsibility sits squarely on the shoulders of their recruiters.

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Revenge & Self-Defense: To “Save My People”24

Both in the East and the Kasais, one of the most salient Provincially, the difference was in how children and their reasons boys joined armed groups or militia was to avenge recruiters defined the enemy. In North and South Kivu, children the death(s) of family members and protect their communities predominantly believed the enemy to be armed groups of from opposing armed groups of another ethnicity or from the opposing ethnicities, whereas in Ituri and the Kasais, children Government. In Mayi Mayi Mazembe at least 32% of all children joining FRPI and Kamuina Nsapu fought the State, whether in who volunteered justified their decision as a way to protect the form of FARDC, PNC, elements perceived – rightly or not their Nande community from Hutu-based groups. In just one – to be “Rwandan soldiers,” or ethnic militia viewed as siding of hundreds of cases, three brothers joined NDC-Rénové after with the Government. Notably, revenge and self-defense was FDLR FOCA killed their parents, wanting ‘’vengeance one a gendered push factor expressed exclusively by boys in the day.’’25 Seizing on the compelling argument of ethnic identity, East. Only in the Kasais did girls use the language of revenge or commanders systematically used this rhetoric to lure children ethnic self-defense as a justification for joining Kamuina Nsapu. into their ranks, as when Rayia Mutomboki General Ngoa bequeathed an AK-47 to a boy with a blessing to “fight for his community.”26

Economic Survival Strategy: To “Eat Meat Every Day”27

Poverty cannot be underestimated as a factor that primes misleading financial promises, like the ADF, which promised two children for recruitment in the DRC, where 77% of the population boys, ages 16 and 17, jobs as moto-taxi drivers, gave them new lived on less than 2USD per day in 2016, and nearly 2 million SIM cards and sent 20 USD in mobile money to facilitate their children suffered from severe acute malnutrition in 2017.28 When travel.30 a child’s next meal came from an armed group commander, the risk of recruitment was often worth the guarantee of sustenance. The promise of a job was powerful enough to persuade Among armed groups that lack strong ideologies, like Nyatura children to traverse borders. In 2017, for example, two 17-year- or Rayia Mutomboki, economic incentives – promises of salaries, old Tanzanian boys crossed into DRC, through Burundi and free schooling, loot, meat, a “good life” – were particularly back into the DRC on the false promise of mining jobs, only to persuasive, especially when another child already in the armed have their passports confiscated and be forced into the Cheik group made the argument, as was common practice in FRPI, Abouhamza Islamic group, reportedly a member of Mayi Mayi FDLR FOCA and Nyatura. In a typical case, a 14-year-old boy Yakutumba’s coalition.31 joined Nyatura when a friend told him, falsely, that each new recruit would receive 30 USD.29 Some armed groups that played on this vulnerability gave children reason to believe in

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Physical Survival Strategy: To Stay Alive

In the volatile DRC, physical protection is a rare commodity and forced entire villages to join the militia en masse. A 13-year-old one of the most precious promises an armed group can make boy watched his recruiter decapitate and carry around the head to children facing life-or-death situations. Children fled threats of the local chief, which, he said, “created great fear in the other in their home lives, such as the furious parents of a pregnant chiefs and they could not resist our recruitment.”36 girlfriend, the police pursuing children for petty crimes, or an abusive teacher or parent. For example, a 13-year-old boy felt For children living in territory effectively ruled by an armed that his stepmother’s abuse was more terrifying than joining group, death threats also came under the guise of imposing law Nyatura.32 This push factor was most common in FRPI, where and order. For example, NDC-Rénové elements ambushed two the loss of a parent, abuse or altercations at home drove 8% of brothers, ages 8 and 15, on their way to a market in Walikale all children associated with the group to volunteer themselves. Territory, North Kivu. The combatants demanded that the boys show a token proving payment of the armed group’s so-called Threats also came from the armed group itself, forcing children security tax, which only the older brother had in his pocket. to think fast to save their own lives. Joining an armed group at Angered by this apparent disobedience, the NDC-Rénové gunpoint was not a choice at all.33 It was an act of self-preservation. elements ordered the older boy to choose between joining the This was the case when FLDR FOCA gave a 16-year-old boy and armed group or killing his little brother. Having witnessed the his parents the choice between volunteering their son, paying decapitation of two other children for not paying the tax, he 850 USD – an impossibly large sum for the vast majority of quickly chose to join, saving his little brother’s life.37 Congolese – or all be killed.34 These threats were not empty, as an 11-year-old boy in NDC-Cheka learned when he watched the Other times, a child’s split-second choice to seek protection commander of NDC-Cheka order his combatants to shoot and in the ranks of a militia was a result of happenstance. When kill another child for resisting recruitment.35 While such threats Kamuina Nsapu arrived in Nganza, villagers fled and a 13-year- were universal among the top perpetrators, Kamuina Nsapu old boy found himself alone and unable to find his parents; he deployed them most systematically when, in 2017, recruiters quickly adhered to the militia rather than face it.38

Family & Peer Pressure: To “See My Friends in the Bush”39

In armed groups that operated in family structures, like FDLR from friends already in the group: 14% of all children recruited FOCA, children were regularly recruited by their immediate by and 39% of child volunteers for FRPI cited this justification as family members and some were born into the group, never their reason for joining the group. Peer and family ties to FRPI experiencing life outside the bush. FDLR FOCA was unique compounded other push factors, like poverty, as in the case among armed groups in drawing girls and younger boys into its of a 14-year-old boy who volunteered to join his uncle, a FRPI ranks with the promise of mothering by women associated with witch doctor, to “have a better life” and protect his family from the armed group. harassment.42

Other groups simply maintained strong links with the Hundreds of kilometers to the west, parents were sending their communities they controlled and recruited children from across children to join Kamuina Nsapu, often paying for their children’s their family networks. For instance, a commander phoned his initiation rites, like the 8-year-old girl recruited by her mother, 15-year-old cousin, promising to pay her school fees if she a Kamuina Nsapu member herself.43 Peer pressure was also a served as an escort.40 Cheka’s rival, NDC-Rénové, recruited a powerful push factor for teenagers, with groups of children 14-year-old boy when his father, a senior commander, told the deciding together to join Kamuina Nsapu and children inside boy that “studies are useless in the DRC.”41 In Ituri, the number FDLR FOCA convincing friends to join up. one reason boys volunteered to join FRPI was peer pressure

Political Ideology44

While certain armed groups operating in the East, such as the and 2017. By contrast, 22% of the children who volunteered FRPI or FDLR FOCA, articulated political demands, children for Kamuina Nsapu vociferously cited abuses by State agents associated with them rarely cited political or ideological and the goal of overthrowing the national and provincial motivations for volunteering, despite the reported increase governments as their motivation to join the militia. armed commanders’ use of anti-Government rhetoric in 2016

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Pull Factors: Why Armed Groups Recruited Children

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Boost Ranks: “Our strength is in our youth”46

From a strictly pragmatic perspective, there were rational and attacks or after tough losses, referencing their worry that the operational reasons that armed groups in the DRC recruited group was going to disappear or die out. One 15-year-old children, most concretely because boys and girls could quickly boy recounted how, in 2015, a Rayia Mutomboki commander multiply a fighting force. Children associated with Rayia ordered each household in his village in Walikale to “free” one Mutomboki, for example, were well-aware of the reasons why person, adult or child, to build up his “team.”47 commanders held recruitment rallies just before launching

Loyal Fighters: To Fight for Our People

Armed group commanders often expected children with self-defense that pushed children to volunteer. Armed group blood ties to the group’s members to be loyal to their cause commanders and recruiters were savvy in calling in the favor on the basis of their collective history, suffering and desire for of ethnic loyalty when persuading children to join, whether vengeance. This pull factor was clearest in FDLR FOCA and one-on-one (as in FDLR FOCA) or in massive recruitment rallies Kamuina Nsapu. Take for example the 13-year-old Rwandan (as in Rayia Mutomboki). This closely inter-relates to groups’ boy recruited by his father, a FDLR FOCA combatant, despite need for fearless fighters. Emotional attachment and a sense his mother’s return to Rwanda.48 This expectation also extended of obligation to family members, friends, commanders and the to the wider community, tribe and ethnicity of an armed ubiquitous “us” boosted children’s willingness, at least initially, group, hooking neatly into the very desire for revenge and to fight against a perceived evil “them.”

Cheap Labor: To Carry the Loot

Armed groups, like FDLR FOCA and Nyatura, that used loot for kilometers into the bush, threaten to kill them if they children predominantly in support roles, including criminal try to return home, and use them as cheap labor: domestics, activities such as illicit mining, recruited children partly for cooks, babysitters, porters, or miners who eat half of what a their cheap labor. Children cost less to feed, clothe, and shelter man eats and demand less too. While most ubiquitous among than adults, but they work just as hard, if not harder, and are FDLR FOCA, other armed groups, including Nyatura, Rayia easier to manipulate. This line of thinking made FDLR FOCA’s Mutomboki, and NDC-Rénové, all with their eyes on natural trademark child recruitment tactic seem more logical: Pillage resources, employed similar methods. a village, abduct the children, force them to carry the heaviest

Magic: To “Become Bulletproof”49

Armed groups with deeply held beliefs in magic and the in 2015 by Rayia Mutomboki reported that the group was protective powers possessed by virgins specifically targeted specifically targeting girls younger than 13 for recruitment to younger boys and girls to restore the group’s magic to its strengthen the group’s ability to “become bulletproof.”50 NDC- full power. These children, in their roles as witchdoctors or Rénové, Mayi Mayi Mazembe and Kamuina Nsapu placed high fétisheurs, were sent to the frontlines to protect and heal value on petite young boys and girls, with strict rules that they combatants injured during battle. A 12-year-old girl recruited keep their virginity to retain their powers.

Proof of Power: To Punish, Extort and Control Communities I was visiting my uncle and when out to his field when I ran into Armed groups that controlled territory in the absence of the men from MAC. They really intimidated me and made me go with State, like NDC-Rénové, Nyatura and FDLR FOCA, used child them, carrying a goat. Now I know why they took me: Their recruitment as a control mechanism, punishing or extorting fétisheur was looking for an assistant, a boy who had not yet families and villages into submission. In this way, child slept with a girl. From then on, there was not a minute that I recruitment became a means of exerting power over territory. was very far from the fétisheur.45 For instance, a 16-year-old girl’s mother could not afford to pay a tax to Nyatura; that night, the group abducted the girl and Sex: Male Location: Walikale Territory, North Kivu within two weeks she was “married” to her abductor.51 Age: 9 Recruited by: MAC

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The Trigger Violation: Abduction

Child recruitment in the DRC cannot be fully understood without addressing its most common trigger: Abduction. Child recruitment was the purpose of 70% all child abductions documented by the UN since 2014. On average, the top seven child recruiters in the DRC abducted 27% of their child soldiers. Certain armed groups, particularly those with specific ideologies, like the ADF, or those which valued children for their labor, like Nyatura, had higher rates of abduction and fewer volunteers. FRPI, Nyatura, NDC-Rénové and Rayia Mutomboki employed the tactic most often: 30-40% of these groups’ child soldiers endured abduction as a gateway to recruitment. The exception to this rule was Kamuina Nsapu, which physically abducted just 5% of its children, instead employing other tactics – political and ethnic rhetoric, promises of magical protection, and death threats – to recruit children.

This is no coincidence. Abduction is simpler than convincing a Abductions fell into two categories: Targeted or opportunistic. 14-year-old and can easily be combined with other activities. Four of the top seven recruiters (FDLR FOCA, Nyatura, NDC- Almost every armed group that recruited children in the Rénové and Rayia Mutomboki) carried out targeted abduction DRC since 2014 used abduction as a recruitment mechanism. missions, typically combined with looting to maximize the National trends across all perpetrators show that while child booty transported back to camp. One 16-year-old boy recruited recruitment decreased, child abductions increased, however this by NDC-Rénové in 2016 was abducted, sprayed with “medicine” may have been impacted by the UN Security Council’s addition to protect him from bullets and forced to march straight to of abduction as a listable violation in 2015, meaning that the UN the frontlines carrying ammunition.53 Rayia Mutomboki was was more closely monitoring this violation from 2015 onward.52 highly strategic in targeting locations – schools, markets, Nevertheless, among the top seven perpetrators, the trend in mines – and times – market days, after school – to carry out abduction matched the trend in child recruitment, year for year. their abductions.54 All armed groups appeared to carry out opportunistic abductions, abducting unlucky children who happened to cross their paths.

I was farming with my little sister when three men and a woman carrying guns took us. We walked for hours carrying things they had stolen from villages. My little sister was sick and she could not walk very fast, so they left her behind part-way. There were two other boys with us who they had taken but I did not know their names. I do not know how far we walked but it took us the rest of that day, all night and the whole next day. When we got to the camp, they made me take care of the commander’s baby.

Sex: Female Location: Haut Uélé Age: 15 Recruited by: LRA

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CHILD RECRUITMENT VIA ABDUCTION BY ALL PERPETRATORS CHILD RECRUITMENT VIA ABDUCTION BY TOP PERPETRATORS

TOTALTOTAL RECRUITED RECRUITED TOTALTOTAL RECRUITED RECRUITED 25002500 12001200 ABDUCTEDABDUCTED FOR FOR RECRUITMENT RECRUITMENT ABDUCTEDABDUCTED FOR FOR RECRUITMENT RECRUITMENT

10001000 20002000

800800 15001500 600600 10001000 400400 NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN 500500 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 200200

0 0 0 0 20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017 20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017

Abduction was a gendered violation, inherently linked to the Living in the milieu of multiple armed groups made children nature of the roles that boys and girls played once inside more vulnerable to such abductions. This was the case for a armed groups, including, for the latter, as “wives.” Among the 9-year-old boy who was separated from his parents while fleeing top perpetrators, girls were on average 7% more likely to be clashes between Mayi Mayi and Nyatura, unluckily crossed paths abducted than boys, however, in the starkest example, FRPI with FDLR FOCA and was abducted into the group.57 targeted girls nearly exclusively, with 81% of all girls recruited by FRPI abducted, compared to just 20% of all boys recruited Resistance was often futile. Families and chiefs who attempted by the group. It is no coincidence that FRPI also had the highest to negotiate, usually on behalf of girls, were threatened. In the percentage of girls among its child soldiers (27%), and that words of one Rayia Mutomboki commander who refused to these girls disclosed the highest rate of sexual violence (93%) leave a child with his parents: “There will be bullets.”58 Even after CHILDRENCHILDREN ENTERING ENTERING & &LEAVING LEAVING CHILDCHILD RECRUITMENT RECRUITMENT BY BY REGION REGION amongARMED top perpetrators. GROUPS In a typical example, a 14-year-old girl children were abducted, some groups, such as NDC-Rénové, was theARMED only person GROUPS abducted from her village during a FRPI abducted and imprisoned alleged child “spies” in cells inside pillaging raid. Upon arrival in the camp, the reason why was their camps for up to two weeks, before offering all prisoners to made clear when she was presented to her “husband.”56 the non-choice of formally joining the group or being strangled SEPARATIONSEPARATION NEWNEW RECRUITMENT RECRUITMENT to death.59 EASTEAST KASAISKASAIS 25002500 25002500

20002000

20002000 15001500

10001000 15001500 NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN 500500 “On the night of 14 December 2014, the ADF killed everyone in my village, including my mother. The fighters didn’t kill me – They just took 10001000 0 0 me2014 into2014 the jungle2015 with2015 them and2016 a 2016few other women20172017 and children. We walked for days 2014and2014 they made 2015me2015 carry heavy2016 things.2016 They spoke20172017 another language that I didn’t understand. The men carried RPGs and AK-47s but I never saw them fight. About a month later, I managed to escape. Even though I was very sick, I walked through the jungle until I reached a main road. There, I met another FARDC soldier, who took me to Beni town. Now I am back together with my aunt.”55

NDC-RENOVENDC-RENOVE Sex: Female Location: Beni Territory, North Kivu Age: 12 Recruited by: ADF CHILDRENCHILDREN YOUNGER YOUNGER THAN THAN AGE AGE 15 15 AS AS A A % % OF OF ALL ALL CHILDREN CHILDREN RECRUITEDRECRUITED BY BY TOP TOP PERPETRATORS PERPETRATORS

MAYIMAYI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE MAZEMBE

FDLRFDLR FOCA FOCA NYATURANYATURA KAMUINAKAMUINA NSAPU NSAPU RAYIARAYIA MUTOMBOKI MUTOMBOKI MAYIMAYI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE MAZEMBE FRPIFRPI 80 80 FDLRFDLR FOCA FOCA NYATURANYATURA RAYIARAYIA MUTOMBOKI MUTOMBOKI 70 70 KAMUINAKAMUINA NSAPU NSAPU 60 60 RAYIARAYIA MUTOMBOKI MUTOMBOKI 50 50 MAYIMAYI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE MAZEMBE FRPIFRPI KAMUINAKAMUINA NSAPU NSAPU 40 40 NDC-RENOVENDC-RENOVE 30 30 PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE 20 20

10 10

0 0 20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 31 PART I: Before: How and Why Armed Group Recruited Children

Re-Recruitment: The Revolving Door

Where child recruitment was endemic, as in North Kivu, children who escaped from armed groups lived under the near-constant threat of re-recruitment. While data on re-recruitment was not systematically collected until 2017, among the top seven perpetrators, an average of 3% of children – almost exclusively boys – were re-recruited by the same or multiple armed groups. Nyatura re-recruited the most children, with at least 8% of its child soldiers having been recruited in the past.61 These figures are, however, likely an under-estimate.

Re-recruitment is a euphemism that belies the deadly risks home at all, choosing to be displaced rather than risk being children shouldered by escaping from armed groups. Four days discovered and punished by their recruiters. Children went to after a boy reunited with his family, 10 FDLR FOCA elements great lengths to avoid re-recruitment, e.g. a 13-year-old girl who tied up and beat the Chief of Mpati IDP Camp until he agreed to fled far from both Rayia Mutomboki and from her home village, hand over the boy and four other former child soldiers, killing or the 17-year-old boy who faked severe malaria each time his one and re-recruiting the rest.62 With armed groups maintaining former commander came looking for him.63 Yet, in a region with a tight grip on their territory, children who dared to return home a plethora of armed groups, some children evaded their original were regularly re-recruited by their original recruiters or their recruiters only to be recruited anew by other armed groups: For former commanders, sometimes within days of reuniting with one 16-year-old boy, FDLR FOCA was the third armed group to their families. This risk prevented many children from returning recruit him.64

I was first recruited by FDLR FOCA back in 2013 from a nearby mining site but I escaped and returned to my family. A month after I reunified with them, I returned to the mining site to look for work. Unfortunately, the same men who recruited me before recognized me. They tore up my attestation de sortie [demobilization certificate] and forced me to go back to their camp with them. My commander beat me so badly to punish me.60

Sex: Male Location: Masisi Territory, North Kivu Age: 16 Recruited by: FDLR FOCA

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P. 34 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART I: DURING: Life as a Child Soldier in the DRC

The Boys & Girls Recruited by Armed Groups

The sheer scale of child recruitment in the DRC must be recognized: Since 2014, the UN verified armed groups’ recruitment of 6,168 children (549 girls, 5,619 boys). To put this in perspective, in 2017, the DRC had the fourth highest number of child soldiers globally and has consistently been among the five countries where the UN documents the most child soldiers.65

Despite this disheartening news, the trends were encouraging. While beyond the time period covered by this report, it is Nationally, from 2014 to 2017, separation of children from armed important to note that the high figures in the Kasais did not groups increased by 22% while new recruitment decreased last into 2018. While the risk of resumption of conflict and child by 50%. This means more children left armed groups than recruitment remains in the Kasais, the pattern currently indicates entered them. Putting aside for a moment the increase in that it was an acute instance of unprecedented recruitment in child recruitment in the Kasais, in the East, child recruitment 2016-2017, rather than a long-term trend, as seen in the East. decreased by 68% over this four-year period. However, an important caveat is that, given that children can spend years in armed groups, child recruitment figures for 2016 and 2017 will likely adjust upward over time as more children recruited in

those years are separated and documented.TOTAL RECRUITEDTOTAL RECRUITED TOTAL RECRUITEDTOTAL RECRUITED 2500 2500 1200 1200 ABDUCTED FOR RECRUITMENT ABDUCTEDABDUCTED FOR RECRUITMENT FOR RECRUITMENT ABDUCTED FOR RECRUITMENT

1000 1000 2000 2000

800 800 1500 1500 600 600 1000 1000 6400,168400 NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN 500 500 NUMBER OF CHILDREN CHILDREN RECRUITED200 200 SINCE 2014

0 0 0 0 2014 2014 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017 2014 2014 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017

5,619 Boys 549 Girls

CHILDRENCHILDREN ENTERING ENTERING & LEAVING & LEAVING CHILDCHILD RECRUITMENT RECRUITMENT BY REGION BY REGION ARMEDARMED GROUPS GROUPS

CHILDREN ENTERING & LEAVING ARMED GROUPS CHILD RECRUITMENT BY REGION

SEPARATIONSEPARATIONNEW RECRUITMENTNEW RECRUITMENT EAST EAST KASAIS KASAIS 2500 2500 2500 2500 CHILDREN RECRUITED SINCE 2014

2000 2000 1142 FDLR FOCA RAYIA 1200 MUTOMBOKI NDC-RÉNOVÉ MAYI MAYI 2000 2000 NYATURA MAZEMBE 1500 1500 1000 KAMUINA FRPI NSAPU FRPI 807 NDC-RÉNOVÉ 800 MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 1000 1000 634 1500 1500 600 555 RAYIA MUTOMBOKI

NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN 454 NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN 500 500 KAMUINA NSAPU 400 303 1000 0 1000 0 NYATURA 2014 2014 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017 2014 2014 2015 2015 2016 2002016 2017 2017 164

FDLR FOCA 0

FDLR FOCA RAYIA MUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU FRPI

NDC-RÉNOVÉ NDC-RENOVENDC-RENOVE

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 35 CHILDRENCHILDREN YOUNGER YOUNGER THAN THAN AGE AGE15 AS 15 A AS % OFA % ALL OF ALLCHILDREN CHILDREN RECRUITEDRECRUITED BY TOP BY TOPPERPETRATORS PERPETRATORS

MAYI MAYIMAYI MAZEMBE MAYI MAZEMBE

FDLR FOCAFDLR FOCA NYATURA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPUKAMUINA NSAPU RAYIA MUTOMBOKIRAYIA MUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYIMAYI MAZEMBE MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI FRPI 80 80 FDLR FOCAFDLR FOCA NYATURA NYATURA RAYIA RAYIAMUTOMBOKI MUTOMBOKI 70 70 KAMUINA NSAPUKAMUINA NSAPU 60 60 RAYIA MUTOMBOKIRAYIA MUTOMBOKI 50 50 MAYI MAYIMAYI MAZEMBE MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI FRPI KAMUINAKAMUINA NSAPU NSAPU 40 40 2500 NDC-RENOVENDC-RENOVE EAST 30 30 KASAIS PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE 2000 NATIONAL 20 20

10 10 1500

0 0 1000 2014 2014 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017

500 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 TOTAL RECRUITED TOTAL RECRUITED 2500 1200 ABDUCTED FOR RECRUITMENT ABDUCTED FOR RECRUITMENT

1000 2000

800 1500 600 1000 400

NUMBER OF CHILDREN 500 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 200

0 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017

TOTAL RECRUITED TOTAL RECRUITED 2500 1200 ABDUCTED FOR RECRUITMENT ABDUCTED FOR RECRUITMENT

1000 2000 PART I: DURING: Life as a Child Soldier in the DRC “On the night of 14 December 2014, the ADF killed everyone800 1500in my village, including my mother. The ﬁghters didn’t kill 4 4 me – They just took me into the jungle with them and a few 600 1000other women and children. We walked for days and they 400 made me carry heavy things. They spoke another language

NUMBER OF CHILDREN 500 NUMBER OF CHILDREN CHILDRENthat I didn’t understand. ENTERING The men& LEAVING carried RPGs and AK-47s 200 CHILD RECRUITMENT BY REGION ARMED GROUPS Age but I never saw them ﬁght. 0 0 4 About2014 a month2015 later, I managed2016 to escape.2017 Even though 2014 2015 2016 2017 More than a third (2,171)I was veryof children sick, I walkedrecruited through since 2014 the werejungle untilA I glance at the rates of children younger than 15 among the reached a main road.SEPARATION There, I metNEW a FARDC RECRUITMENT66 soldier, EAST KASAIS under the2500 age of 15, a war crime under international law. top seven perpetrators2500 paints a similar picture, with Kamuina Regional analysis showedwho took a relatively me to Beni positive town. story Now in Ithe am East, back togetherNsapu outranking armed groups in the East. However, in four of with my aunt.” 2000 with the rate of children under age 15 dropping from 50% of the six top perpetrators in the East, rates of children under age 2000 all child soldiers inSEX: 2015 FEMALE to 28%LOCATION: in 2017. BENI TERRITORY,In the Kasais, NORTH KIVU however, 15 remained steady or dropped, with significant drops seen in 1500 Voil younger children comprisedAGE: 12 RECRUITED60% of BY: all ADF children recruited by NDC-Rénové from 56% in 2014 (while allied with NDC-Cheka) SEX: FEMALE LOCATION: BENI TERRITORY, NORTH KIVU AGE: 12 RECRUITED BY: ADF Kamuina Nsapu, making it essentially a child army and driving to 13% in 2017.1000 up the national1500 average of child soldiers under age 15. However,

KamuinaNUMBER OF CHILDREN Nsapu was not the only group to recruit very young Notably, girlsNUMBER OF CHILDREN recruited500 by the top perpetrators were more likely children. For instance, the ADF also abducted and used very than boys to be younger than 15-years-old. For instance, Rayia 1000 0 young children, including2014 one 6-year-old2015 boy2016 who was born2017 Mutomboki recruited twice2014 as many2015 under-15-year-old2016 girls 2017 in “Madina,”CHILDREN the group’s ENTERINGheadquarters, and & wasLEAVING taught to than boys. CHILD RECRUITMENT BY REGION assembleARMED and disassemble GROUPS weapons.67

NDC-RENOVE SEPARATION NEW RECRUITMENT EAST KASAIS 2500 2500

CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN AGE 15 AS A % OF2000 ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY TOP PERPETRATORS 2000 1500 CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN AGE 15 AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY REGION MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU 1000 RAYIA MUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI 80 1500 FDLRKASAIS FOCA NYATURAEAST RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 70NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN 500 KAMUINANATIONAL NSAPU 60 RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 1000 0 MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 50 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 FRPI KAMUINA NSAPU 40 NDC-RENOVE 30 PERCENTAGE 20

10 NDC-RENOVE 0 20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017 CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN AGE 15 AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY TOP PERPETRATORS

CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN AGE 15 AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY TOP PERPETRATORS MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU RAYIA MUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI 80 FDLR FOCA NYATURA RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 70 KAMUINA NSAPU 60 RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 50 MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI KAMUINA NSAPU 40 NDC-RENOVE 30 PERCENTAGE 20

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

P. 36 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN AGE % OF CHILDREN USED AS COM - 15 AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN BATANTS BY REGION RECRUITED BY REGION

KASAIS EAST NATIONAL KASAIS EAST NATIONAL 80 100

70 80 60

50 60 40

30 40 PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE 20 PART I: DURING: Life as a Child Soldier in the DRC 20 10

0 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017

CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN AGE % OF CHILDREN USED AS COM - Gender15 AS68 A % OF ALL CHILDREN BATANTS BY REGION RECRUITED BY REGION An average of 9% of children recruited since 2014 were girls, NATIONALRegionally, high numbers TRENDS of girls IN were CHILD overtly targeted by CHILD COMBATANTS BY GENDER primarily in the Kasais, North Kivu and Ituri provinces. While RECRUITMENTKamuina Nsapu in the Kasais, BY againGENDER skewing the national trend KASAIS EAST NATIONAL KASAIS EAST NATIONAL the numbers80 of boys recruited by armed groups dropped, the upward. 100 numbers70 of girls documented as associated with armed groups 80 steadily60 increased from 7% in 2014 to 12% in 2017. This relative However, raw national and regional figures must be read in GIRLS 2000 120 % GIRLS % BOYS increase50 may be due to two different reasons: Either a decrease conjunction with60 data that is specific to eachBOYS armed group. GIRLS BOYS in the 40recruitment of boys and an increase in girls whereby girls For example, while the overall rate of girls documented in 100 100 1500 actually30 do make up a greater proportion of children in armed armed groups in 40the East hovered in the single digits, in Rayia PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE 80 80 groups,20 or, alternatively, the increased visibility of girls associated Mutomboki, the percentage of girls documented by the UN 20 1000 60 60 with armed10 groups following UN campaigns to encourage them jumped from 3% to 40% between 2014 and 2017, and in FRPI

to come0 forward and claim the child DDR benefits they are girls made up 27%0 of all children documented as recruited and 40 40 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 entitled to, thus allowing them to be documented. Regardless used.500 PERCENTAGE NUMBER OF CHILDREN of the reason, the fact remains that girls in armed groups are 20 20

consistently under-reported, due to stigma and barriers to 0 0 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 accessing child DDR programs that obscures their visibility to the UN and prevents their documentation. NATIONAL TRENDS IN CHILD GIRLS ASCHILD A % OF COMBATANTS ALL CHILDREN BY GENDER RECRUITMENT BY GENDER RECRUITED BY REGION CHILDREN'S ROLES IN ARMED GROUPS

NATIONAL TRENDS IN CHILD RECRUITMENT BY GENDER GIRLS AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY REGION

COMBATANT SUPPORT KASAI EAST NATIONAL GIRLS 2000 20 120 % GIRLS % BOYS BOYS GIRLS BOYS 100 100 1500 15 39% 80 80 COMBATANT

1000 10 60 60

PERCENTAGE 40 40 61%

500 5 PERCENTAGE SUPPORT NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 20

0 0 0 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 20152014 20162015 20172016 2017 GIRLS AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY TOP PERPE - TRATORS GIRLS AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN GIRLSRECRUITED AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN BY RECRUITED REGION BY TOP PERPETRATORS CHILDREN'S ROLES IN ARMED FDLRFDLR FOCAFOCA NYATURANYATURA KAMUINAKAMUINA NSAPUNSAPU GROUPSRAYIARAYIA MUTOMBOKIMUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPIFRPI 4040 FDLRFDLR FOCAFOCA 3535 NYATURANYATURA COMBATANT SUPPORT KASAI EAST NATIONAL KAMUINAKAMUINA NSAPUNSAPU 303020 RAYIARAYIA MUTOMBOKIMUTOMBOKI 2525 MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPIFRPI 202015 NDC-RENOVENDC-RENOVE 39% 1515 COMBATANT PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE

1010 55

PERCENTAGE 61% 05 20142014 20152015 20162016 SUPPORT20172017

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 SEPARATION OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY TOP PERPETRA - TORS

OTHER SURRENDERED/DEMOBILIZEDSURRENDERED/DEMOBILIZED RELEASEDRELEASED EERR TTHH ARRESTEDARRESTED OO 33%%

ESCAPEDESCAPED

DD 3% EE RR OTHER EE DD NN ESCAPEDESCAPED EE RR RR

U U

S S

6 6

% % ARRESTEDARRESTED 7 7 3 3 13% % %

1 1

E E SURRENDEREDSURRENDERED

S S

C C

A A

P P D

D RELEASEDRELEASED

E E

D D S S

A A

E E

L L

E E

R 9% R

OTHER

RELEASED %

9 9

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 37

D D

E E

T T

S S

E E

R R

A A

% %

8 8

ARRESTED

67% ESCAPEDESCAPED

CHILDREN ESCAPING FROM THE TOP PERPETRATORS

FDLRFDLR FOCAFOCA NYATURANYATURA KAMUINAKAMUINA NSAPUNSAPU RAYIARAYIA MUTOMBOKIMUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPIFRPI 500500

FDLRFDLR FOCAFOCA MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

NYATURANYATURA FRPIFRPI 400400 KAMUINAKAMUINA NSAPUNSAPU NDC-RENOVENDC-RENOVE

RAYIARAYIA MUTOMBOKIMUTOMBOKI

300300

200200 NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN

100100

0 20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017 PART I: DURING: Life as a Child Soldier in the DRC

Nationality

Just as conflicts and armed groups are not necessarily expanded geographically, with Tanzanian children from as far contained by borders, neither are the children ensnared in as Dar es Salaam documented as recruited by Congolese armed them. With borders on eight countries and a ninth across Lake groups, in this case Mayi Mayi Yakutumba, for the first time. Tanganyika, the DRC sees low but steady levels of cross-border recruitment. While the vast majority of children recruited and Cross-border recruitment tended to be one of two types: False used in the DRC were Congolese, children recruited by both promises of schooling or employment, like the Tanzanian boy Congolese and foreign-armed groups also came from Rwanda deceived by his uncle, a Mayi Mayi Yakutumba recruiter, with a (32), South Sudan (26), Burundi (25), Uganda (10), Tanzania job offer in the DRC, or an ideological, religious or ethnic link, (3), Central African Republic (2), and Kenya (1). During the 2015 as was the case among Muslim children typically recruited in Burundian refugee crisis, Burundian children were recruited in Uganda by ADF and Hutu children recruited by FDLR FOCA in refugee camps in Rwanda, trained in the DRC, and sent to fight Rwanda.69 in Burundi. In 2017, the cross-border child recruitment trend

Initiation Rites

Each armed group formed its own culture and children were not just objects of magic but subjects wielding its powers. In absorbed into its daily rhythms. Some groups, like FDLR FOCA the East, the role of witchdoctor, known as fétisheur or kadogo or Nyatura, scarcely initiated children beyond a “welcome” dawa, was frequently played by young boys, whose youth beating from other children, an introduction to cannabis or and virginity fortified their powers. One 15-year-old boy used other drugs and alcohol, and brief military training. Physical as a fétisheur by Mayi Mayi Lafontaine was severely punished abuse was a common experience for new recruits. One 14-year- after being accused of having sex, which was forbidden to old boy said that when he first joined Rayia Mutomboki, he fétisheurs.72 When a child arrived in Rayia Mutomboki or Mayi was “mistreated like I could never have imagined.”70 Other Mayi Mazembe, for example, they would first be tattooed, armed groups, like the ADF, first “re-educated” children in the usually by another child fétisheur. group’s beliefs in training camps separate from headquarters. For instance, children arrived in ADF training camps strictly The most elaborate initiations, known as baptisms, were regulated by morning-noon-and-night prayers, mornings in performed by Kamuina Nsapu, with reportedly hundreds of school studying Arabic and the Quran, followed by weapons children and adults receiving magical protective powers at training and an afternoon soccer game; only after completing nighttime ceremonies held around tshiota, sacred fireplaces. their training could children proceed to Madina, the ADF’s In 2016, it was also common practice in the militia to lacerate headquarters.71 children’s abdomens and shoulders, deeming those children whose wounds healed to hold the strongest powers. Children To understand children’s experiences in armed groups, it is sincerely believed that this initiation could protect them from essential to consider that magic is perceived to be real and is a bullets. As one boy said, “It is clear that this baptism can change part of the fabric of daily life for many communities across the a child’s spirit and push him to commit odious crimes in battle DRC. This powerful patchwork of animistic beliefs carried over with soldiers.”73 to the culture and practices of many armed groups, particularly in North Kivu and the Kasais. These groups, including Kamuina Nsapu, NDC-Rénové, Mayi Mayi Charles and Mayi Mayi Mazembe, tended to perform more involved initiation rituals, sometimes repeated throughout a child’s association to refresh his or her magical protections and powers. In fact, children were

P. 38 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART I: DURING: Life as a Child Soldier in the DRC

Children’s Roles in Armed Groups

Combatants

On average, 31% of all children recruited in the DRC since 2014 fought on the frontlines. The use of children as combatants increased nationally from 18% of all children recruited in 2014 to 51% of those in 2017. This increase, however, was skewed by Kamuina Nsapu’s use of 88% of its children on the frontlines. In the East, the increase in armed groups’ used of child combatants was steady but not nearly commensurate with the levels seen in the Kasais.

This is in line with the tactics of certain armed groups that Combatant status, while typically gendered was not exclusively emerged in 2016 and 2017, such as Mayi Mayi Mazembe and Mayi so. Whereas the vast majority of child combatant were boys, CHILDRENMayi Yakutumba, YOUNGER which used THAN over 50% AGE of associated children girls% made OF up CHILDREN 13% of all child combatants USED AS used COM by armed- groups 15 ASas A combatants. % OF ALL Kamuina CHILDREN Nsapu sent girls as young as 4 years sinceBATANTS 2014. Notably, BY this percentageREGION jumped from 1% (4 girls) in RECRUITEDold as human BY shields, REGION spurred on by the belief that the girls’ 2014 to 34% (167 girls) in 2017, predominantly due to the high magical powers made them invulnerable to bullets and would numbers of girls used on the frontlines in the Kasais. Certain

protect other combatants.KASAIS ChildrenEAST in the NATIONALmilitia as young as 10 armed groups, like KamuinaKASAIS Nsapu and EASTNDC-Rénové,NATIONAL deployed 80 100 fought in hand-to-hand combat and claimed to have beheaded girls regularly to the frontlines. In one case that reveals the 70 multiple – up to 25 – FARDC soldiers and PNC officers, who also complex80 realities and multiplicity of violations endured by girl 60 believed that the children’s magic was real.74 combatants, NDC-Rénové abducted a 17-year-old girl from 50 a funeral60 in Lubero Territory, North Kivu, forcing her to carry 40 Armed groups’ relative levels of organization and wealth were stolen goods on the way to their camp. During her first month 30 40 PERCENTAGE reflected in children’s testimonies of battles. The wealthier of militaryPERCENTAGE training, the girl was forced into sexual slavery by 20 armed groups, like NDC-Rénové – a group known to control her commander.20 Four months later and well into her second 10 significant gold mining assets in North Kivu - armed their trimester, the girl fought against Mayi Mayi Mazembe and 0 child soldiers with RPGs, SMGs and AK-47s. Those with fewer FARDC,0 sustaining a bullet wound to the stomach and losing 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 resources, like Mayi Mayi Mazembe and Kamuina Nsapu, sent the pregnancy.75 children to fight armed with stones, spears, bows and arrows, and magical weapons, like sticks that children believed “became guns” or rocks that “transformed into bombs.” Likewise, children in more organized groups, like FRPI, rattled off battalion names CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN AGE NATIONALand% formalized OF CHILDRENTRENDS chains of command IN USED CHILD up the AS rank COM system.- CHILD COMBATANTS BY GENDER 15 AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN RECRUITMENTBATANTS BY BY GENDER REGION

RECRUITED BY REGION % OF CHILDREN USED AS COMBATANTS BY REGION % OF CHILDREN USED AS COMBATANTS BY GENDER

KASAIS EAST NATIONAL KASAIS EASTGIRLS NATIONAL 2000 120 80 100 % GIRLS % BOYS BOYS GIRLS BOYS 70 100 100 80 60 1500 80 80 50 60 40 1000 60 60

30 40 PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE 40 40

20 500 PERCENTAGE NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 20 20 10

0 0 0 0 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2014 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017

GIRLS AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY REGION CHILDREN'S ROLES IN ARMED GROUPS NATIONAL TRENDS IN CHILD CHILD COMBATANTS BY GENDER RECRUITMENT BY GENDER COMBATANT SUPPORT KASAI EAST NATIONAL 20

15 39% GIRLS 2000 120 COMBATANT % GIRLS % BOYS BOYS GIRLS BOYS 10100 100 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 39 1500

PERCENTAGE 80 80 61% 5 SUPPORT 1000 60 60

040 40 2014 2015 2016 2017 500 PERCENTAGE NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 20

0 0 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017

GIRLS AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY REGION CHILDREN'S ROLES IN ARMED GROUPS

COMBATANT SUPPORT KASAI EAST NATIONAL 20

15 39% COMBATANT

PERCENTAGE 61% 5 SUPPORT

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN AGE % OF CHILDREN USED AS COM - 15 AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN BATANTS BY REGION RECRUITED BY REGION

KASAIS EAST NATIONAL KASAIS EAST NATIONAL 80 100

70 80 60

50 60 40

30 40 PERCENTAGE PART I: DURING:PERCENTAGE Life as a Child Soldier in the DRC 20 20 10

0 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017

Support Roles

Despite the gendered stereotype of the child soldier as a boy with a gun, 69% of children recruited and NATIONAL TRENDS IN CHILD CHILDused by COMBATANTS armed groups in the BY DRC GENDER since 2014 never saw battle. The stories of these 4,032 girls and 2,622 RECRUITMENT BY GENDER boys are the hard grind of the invisible work that made battle possible: looting food, gathering water and wood, cooking, sweeping the commander’s hut, collecting taxes, carrying ammunition and belongings from camp to camp, carefully logging new recruits or ammunition supplies, “marrying” the commander GIRLS 2000 120 % GIRLS % BOYS BOYS and being raped in his bed.GIRLS Nevertheless,BOYS such roles placed children at risk of violations both from their 100 comrades100 and commanders, and of enemy attacks on rear bases. 1500 80 80 Some armed groups, especially Rayia Mutomboki, assigned protective “Mayi Mayi gris gris.”78 Unique to Rayia Mutomboki 1000 60 60 children more fluid support roles, for example with a child was also a system of promotion, in which children could move 40 serving40 both as spy and ammunition porter during battle, up from domestic to escort and eventually to combatant

500 PERCENTAGE

NUMBER OF CHILDREN whichever was required by operational necessity. These through hard work and catching a commander’s eye. 20 20 semi-combatant roles, which put children in close proximity 0 0 to0 fighting without technically taking part in it, ranged from Notably, for FRPI, flexibility in children’s support roles took on 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 bodyguard and escort to witchdoctor or fétisheur, and spy. For new meaning, with some children’s experience of recruitment example, one 13-year-old boy, a favorite of Rayia Mutomboki resembling a part-time job: Children associated with FRPI GIRLS AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN General Birikoriko, accompanied the General to the frontlines to regularly reported living with their families and rotating into the RECRUITED BY REGION CHILDREN'Sadminister “medicine” ROLES and tattoos IN from ARMED a special bag filled with bush for a few hours, days or weeks at a time. GROUPS

CHILDREN’S ROLES IN ARMED GROUPS COMBATANT SUPPORT KASAI EAST NATIONAL 20 I was working in my family’s field when two men appeared and forced me to follow them into the bush. They brought me to a FDLR RUD camp, where I stayed for six months. They trained 15 39% COMBATANT me but not in military things – They trained me to be a spy. They let me go home but told me that if I did not give them 10 good information, they would kill my whole family.76

PERCENTAGE 61% 5 SUPPORT Sex: Male Location: Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu 0 Age: 12 Recruited by: FDLR RUD 2014 2015 2016 2017

When I was taken away by the man from FRPI, I was supposed to be studying in the 5th grade, but I had not been to school for a few months because my parents couldn’t pay my school fees. He forced me to marry him and cook for him too. About a year later, my husband decided to surrender, so I did too. Now I am pregnant.77

Sex: Female Location: South Irumu Territory, Ituri Age: 16 Recruited by: FRPI

P. 40 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART I: DURING: Life as a Child Soldier in the DRC

Violations Triggered by Child Recruitment

Alongside the precursor of abduction, recruitment predisposed children to a host of concurrent violations that stained their lives in armed groups. The threat of everyday violence was omnipresent. Rather than occurring in isolation, these violations were intersectional, blending into and compounded each other as well as playing on a child’s preexisting vulnerabilities. Some violations took place in a single incident. For example, during confrontations between Nyatura and Rayia Mutomboki, a 12-year-old girl fled with her family and was stopped at a Rayia Mutomboki roadblock. The combatants killed the girl’s father, and abducted her and her mother. In the camp, the girl watched her mother be taken away by General Maachano’s escort as a sex slave.79

Sexual Violence Sexual violence did not exclusively affect girls, with at least 16 Both girls and boys survived sexual violence while associated boys reporting that they survived rape and other forms of sexual with armed groups. While 95% of all verified sexual violence violence while associated with armed groups. While cultural cases against children recruited by armed groups since 2014 taboos and traditional gender norms prevented many boys from affected girls, 5% of these cases affected boys. Considering the disclosing experiences of sexual violence, it is suspected to be barriers to children’s disclosure of sexual violence, these 310 far more common than these figures would indicate. Nyatura, in girls and 16 boys represent an underestimate of the actual scale particular, is known to use rape against boys in its own ranks as an 83 of sexual violence perpetrated by armed groups against children intimidation tactic. within their ranks, particularly for boys who rarely disclose such experiences. While it is challenging to precisely document Killing & Maiming trends in sexual violence inside armed groups, the Monitoring Hand in hand with high rates of child combatants came the risk and Reporting Arrangement (MARA) on conflict-related sexual of death and injury during hostilities. While statistics remain violence affecting both children and adults showed an increase elusive, children’s testimonies point to significant child casualties, in verified cases of sexual violence from 2016 to 2017.80 particularly among children in Kamuina Nsapu. The majority – 57% – of child casualties documented by the UN in the Kasais from 2016 At least 56% of all girls recruited since 2014 disclosed experiencing to 2017 were killed or maimed by the FARDC and were directly rape, sexual slavery, or forced marriage at the hands of their targeted on suspicion of membership in the militia. This high rate of recruiters and comrades. Among some of the top perpetrators, targeted killings of children for alleged association may be, in part, rates of sexual violence against girls were far higher: A full 92% a result of the militia’s massive scale of child recruitment, such that of all girls recruited by FRPI reported experiencing rape, forced simply being younger than 18 and of Luba or Lulua ethnicity put marriage or sexual slavery, as did 75% of girls in NDC-Rénové and children at elevated risk of being presumed to be associated with 73% of girls in Nyatura. Case after case told the stories of girls the militia and targeted by FARDC. Children in the militia also listed subjected to sexual violence. For instance, a 13-year-old girl used as dozens of children they watched die in combat.84 This included the a sex slave and cook for a Nyatura colonel, or a 15-year-old girl who 16-year-old boy who was the sole survivor of a battle in Luebo and was abducted and held in a shack to sexually service rank and file the 10-year-old boy who killed 5 soldiers after seeing FARDC kill his elements until she became pregnant, or a boy formerly associated friends.85 At least 30 children independently reported witnessing with Nyatura who recalled how girls had abortions in his camp.81 a large number of children (estimated 60) killed in Moma village, Luiza Territory, Kasai Central in May-June 2017, now allegedly Kamuina Nsapu, which valued virgin girls’ magical powers, had far buried in a mass grave 2km from Moma.86 lower rates of sexual violence, with just 8% of girls disclosing rape. However, girls in the militia reported more subtle forms of sexual In the East, boys and girls who escaped from armed groups were humiliation. For example, girls reported being forced by Kamuina at high risk of being re-recruited and killed or severely injured as Nsapu to walk semi-naked in front of combatants during clashes punishment. For instance, in 2015 in Walikale Territory, North Kivu, against national security forces, allegedly “catching bullets” in their NDC-Cheka elements killed a boy for escaping and left his body skirts and serving as human shields. However, the same belief in on the ground as a warning and as a stamp of authority over the the power of virginity that protected girls inside Kamuina Nsapu, community.87 Notably, boys were predominantly targeted for re- placed them at risk of sexual violence from the militia’s opponents. recruitment, rather than girls. When arrested by State agents during military operations, some of these girls were raped as a way to destroy their magical powers.82

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 41 GIRLS AS A % OF ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY TOP PERPE - TRATORS

FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU RAYIA MUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI 40 FDLR FOCA 35AFTER: NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU 30 RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 25HOW CHILDREN WERE SEPARATED MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI 20FROM ARMED GROUPS NDC-RENOVE 15 PERCENTAGE 10 After days, weeks, or years, some children eventually left armed groups. Those who did were 5 documented and their experiences are reflected here. However, an unknown number of boys 0 and girls remain2014 within armed groups,2015 yet to be separated. 2016 2017

For those children who managed to leave, this occurred in a wide variety of ways, broadly categorizedSEPARATION into escape, OF arrest CHILDREN or capture by RECRUITED State agents, voluntary BY TOP release PERPETRA by armed group- commanders,TORS surrender or demobilization.

OTHER SEPARATION OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY TOP PERPETRATORS SURRENDERED/DEMOBILIZED RELEASED ER TH ARRESTED O 3%

ESCAPED

D 3% E R OTHER E D N ESCAPED E R R

% ARRESTED 7 3 13% %

E SURRENDERED

D RELEASED

E E

D S

9% R

OTHER

RELEASED %

ARRESTED

67% ESCAPED

CHILDREN ESCAPING FROM THE TOP PERPETRATORS

FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU RAYIA MUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI 500

FDLR FOCA MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

NYATURA FRPI 400 KAMUINA NSAPU NDC-RENOVE

RAYIA MUTOMBOKI

300

200 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

100

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

P. 42 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART I: AFTER: How Children Were Separated from Armed Groups

Escape: “More suffering than happiness in the bush”88

On average, 67% of all children recruited by the top seven perpetrators ultimately escaped, with boys and girls escaping at roughly equal rates. That is to say, 2,836 boys and girls risked their lives to leave these armed groups. In the East, escape was the number one means of children’s separation. For instance, 90% of all childrenGIRLS recruited AS Aby %Nyatura OF ALL escaped, CHILDREN as did 87% RECRUITED of children recruitedBY TOP by PERPE FDLR FOCA.- Notably, the numbersTRATORS of children who escaped FDLR FOCA spiked in 2015, when FARDC operations put FDLR FOCA under intense pressure and nearly 500 children seized the opportunity to flee.

FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU RAYIA MUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI 40 FDLR FOCA Why To Where 35 NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU Given the number30 of children who volunteered to join armed Children fled in the direction of safety, whereverRAYIA they MUTOMBOKI believed groups, disillusionment25 with the unrealized promises of their it could be found. For children escaping KamuinaMAYI Nsapu MAYI MAZEMBE that FRPI recruiters spurred20 children to escape. While a handful of children meant heading toward regional capitals like NDC-RENOVEKananga or reported playing15 and eating plenty of food in armed group Tshikapa; for children from Rayia Mutomboki, it meant seeking PERCENTAGE camps, most10 children who escaped FDLR FOCA, Nyatura and out local NGOs known to work with former child soldiers.

Rayia Mutomboki5 in the East fled the hardship of life in the bush.

Harsh punishments,0 abuse, witnessing the deaths of friends and An average of 10% of children recruited by the top perpetrators family, and realizing that magic2014 could not shield them2015 from fled to 2016MONUSCO bases, including2017 22% of children recruited bullets also propelled children to escape.89 Lastly, children cited by FDLR FOCA and 18% recruited by Nyatura. This occurred guilt for taking part in atrocities and seeing the suffering of predominantly in 2014 and 2015, when the MONUSCO Force’s villagers as reasonsSEPARATION for leaving armed OFgroups CHILDREN or militia.90 RECRUITEDlaydown accommodated BY TOP PERPETRA more static bases- in far-flung TORS locations.98 For instance, when a 17-year-old boy was sent on a pillaging mission, he met an acquaintance and asked to be How OTHER SURRENDERED/DEMOBILIZEDhidden overnight. Early the next day he made his way home Quick, opportunistic thinking increased a child’s chanceRELEASED of but his parents were worried about retribution, so he left in ER TH ARRESTED O % successful escape, such as a 14-year-old boy hiding in a toilet 3 99

search of MONUSCO, eventually guided there by a local leader. ESCAPED

D 3% 91 E R while his unit moved fromOTHER one village to the next, a 16-year- E In North Kivu, Dchildren expressly sought out MONUSCO bases N ESCAPED E 92 R R old boy faking illness to be temporarily sent home, another U S

as safe zones despite nearby risks, with three6 17-year-old boys

% ARRESTED 7 3 13% %

E SURRENDERED

changing his SIM card to avoid being traced, and a fourth giving

escaping Mayi Mayi Mazembe and walkingA for a week to reach a

D RELEASED E

93 E D S

his weapon to a friend for safekeeping before slipping away. A 100

MONUSCO baseL in Mavivi, Beni Territory. Notably, the children

9% R

OTHER

RELEASED %

who escaped to MONUSCO bases were almost exclusively boys,

Escaping children were not always alone and many had helping R

with just two girls reporting% that they sought safety from the

ARRESTED

hands along the way. A 14-year-old girl escaped Rayia Mutomboki Force. Girls were far more likely to seek out family and NGOs as 94 with the help of another67% child soldier, her commander’s escort. alternative sources of protection. Others bumped into anESCAPED older sister in the marketplace who secreted them away or managed to phone a priest who sent a motorbike to an agreed meeting spot.95 Children also fled together, like the two boys who were abducted together by NDC-Rénové escaping together during a FARDC attack in 2017.96 Not all children who attempted to escape together managed to succeed. For example, a 13-year-old boy who escaped from FRPI in 2014 worried about the 14-year-old friend who he left behind while fleeing.97 CHILDREN ESCAPING FROM THE TOP PERPETRATORS CHILDREN ESCAPING FROM THE TOP PERPETRATORS FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU RAYIA MUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI 500

FDLR FOCA MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

NYATURA FRPI 400 KAMUINA NSAPU NDC-RENOVE

RAYIA MUTOMBOKI

300

200 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

100

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 43 PART I: AFTER: How Children Were Separated from Armed Groups

Voluntary Release by Armed Group Commanders

Just 9% of all children recruited by the top seven perpetrators were voluntarily released by their commanders. Notably, girls were more likely than boys to be released, with 16% of all girls recruited ultimately being released.

FDLR FOCA, Nyatura and Mayi Mayi Mazembe freed a meager By contrast, of the 303 children documented as recruited and 2% of the children they recruited, pointing to the tight grip they used by FRPI, 22% were released by their commanders, partly maintained on their elements. In the East, the most common as a result of its tentative engagement with MONUSCO CPS, reasons children reported that commanders agreed to their ongoing negotiations with the Government, and the group’s release were mourning children’s immediate family members, partial demobilization in late 2014. Some Rayia Mutomboki bribes, children’s severe illness, and the impact of direct commanders were also open to awareness raising from NGOs awareness-raising by NGOs or the UN. and ultimately voluntarily released 19% of the 555 children documented as recruited by the group. Remarkably, this included Many armed group commanders in the East, like those in FDLR one commander who sensitized other commanders after being FOCA, Nyatura, Rayia Mutomboki, NDC-Rénové and Mayi Mayi convinced of the downsides of recruiting children. Likewise, 7% Yakutumba, consistently accepted bribes from family members of the 634 children documented as formerly associated with desperate to release their children. These ranged from crates of Kamuina Nsapu were released by chiefs after outreach from beer to 100 USD raised by desperate parents. For children who MONUSCO to encourage the militia to demobilize. volunteered to join armed groups such as Mayi Mayi Yakutumba, ransom negotiations were tougher and the bounty price paid by families was often higher than it would have been had the children been abducted by the armed group.101

CHILDREN RELEASEDCHILDREN BY TOP PERPETRATORS RELEASED BY TOP PERPETRATORS

FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU FDLR FOCA RAYIA MUTOMBOKIMAYI MAYI MAZEMBE MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI

40 NYATURA FRPI

KAMUINA NSAPU NDC-RENOVE 35 RAYIA MUTOMBOKI

15 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 10

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

SURRENDER / DEMOBILIZATION OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY TOP PERPETRATORS

FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU RAYIA MUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI 120 FDLR FOCA MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

NYATURA FRPI 100 KAMUINA NSAPU NDC-RENOVE

RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 80

40 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

P. 44 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 0 2014 2015 2016 2017

ARREST / CAPTURE OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY TOP PERPE - TRATORS

FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU RAYIA MUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI 100

FDLR FOCA MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

NYATURA FRPI 80 KAMUINA NSAPU NDC-RENOVE

RAYIA MUTOMBOKI

40 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 PART I: AFTER: How Children Were Separated from Armed Groups

Surrender & Demobilization

Eight percent of all children recruited by the top perpetrators either surrendered to the FARDC or were demobilized with the support of MONUSCO CPS and DDR, with boys and girls surrendering at roughly equal rates. Notably, children who surrender to the FARDC are subsequently handed over to MONUSCO CHILDREN RELEASED BY TOP PERPETRATORS for documentation and enrollment in child DDR programs, however some children who surrender are subsequently arrested or detained.102 FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU FDLR FOCA RAYIA MUTOMBOKIMAYI MAYI MAZEMBE MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI

40 NYATURA FRPI

The majority of these children belonged to Kamuina Nsapu, hundreds of childrenKAMUINA recruited NSAPU by KamuinaNDC-RENOVE Nsapu surrendering 35 which had the highest rate of child surrender/demobilization at a time – far moreRAYIA than MUTOMBOKI could be individually documented. In

among30 the top seven perpetrators: 28% of the 634 children just one MONUSCO mission launched on 8 September 2017, CPS recruited by the militia surrendered or demobilized. separated 157 children, including 32 girls, ages 5 to 17; four days 25 later, 134 more children, including 27 girls were demobilized.104

MONUSCO20 CPS, DDR and Civil Affairs in-person and radio messages encouraging the militia’s demobilization proved 15 themselves influential in swaying children to surrender, as for NUMBER OF CHILDREN example10 the 11-year-old boy who surrendered with his chief after hearing MONUSCO DDR messages in April 2017.103 Between 5 August and October 2017, a snowball effect took hold, with 0 2014 2015 2016 2017

SURRENDER / SURRENDERDEMOBILIZATION OF CHILDREN / DEMOBILIZATION RECRUITED BY TOP PERPETRATORS OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY TOP PERPETRATORS

FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU RAYIA MUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI 120 FDLR FOCA MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

NYATURA FRPI 100 KAMUINA NSAPU NDC-RENOVE

RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 80

40 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

ARREST / CAPTURE OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY TOP PERPE - TRATORS

FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU RAYIA MUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI 100

FDLR FOCA MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

NYATURA FRPI 80 KAMUINA NSAPU NDC-RENOVE

RAYIA MUTOMBOKI

40 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 45

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 CHILDREN RELEASED BY TOP PERPETRATORS

FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU FDLR FOCA RAYIA MUTOMBOKIMAYI MAYI MAZEMBE MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI

40 NYATURA FRPI

KAMUINA NSAPU NDC-RENOVE 35 RAYIA MUTOMBOKI

25 PART I: AFTER: How Children Were Separated from Armed Groups 20

15 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 10

5 Capture and Arrest by State Agents 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 At least one in ten children recruited by the top perpetrators in the DRC were arrested and detained by authorities for their association with armed groups, whether they were captured on the battlefield, were apprehended just after their escape from an armed group, or once they reached home, often after being identified SURRENDERby other community / DEMOBILIZATION members. OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY TOP PERPETRATORS Notably, children associated with armed groups openly opposed sexual violence and other grave violations against children, to the Government, FDLRlike FOCAthese three armed groups,NYATURA saw higher as well KAMUINAas directives NSAPU issued in 2013 RAYIAby the MUTOMBOKI Minister of Defence MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI 120 rates of detention. For instance,FDLR 20%FOCA of all children MAYIdocumented MAYI MAZEMBE and the Agence Nationale de Renseignements (ANR, National NYATURA FRPI as recruited100 and used by Kamuina Nsapu and 9% of all children Intelligence Agency). recruited and used by FRPI KAMUINAand FDLR NSAPU FOCA wereNDC-RENOVE captured or RAYIA MUTOMBOKI arrested.80 Furthermore, boys were more than twice as likely as Conditions in detention facilities, whether Kananga Prison, girls to be captured or arrested. the T2 Intelligence Detention Center in Goma or the Angenga

60 military prison in Mongala Province, were universally poor as was treatment of children in detention. A 15-year-old boy from Treatment of Detained Children by State Agents 40 FDLR FOCA told CPS that he was beaten with bricks and hung

Nationally,NUMBER OF CHILDREN State authorities first detained and then handed from a wall in T2 military detention, and a 14-year-old boy over more20 than 800 children (775 boys, 25 girls) to the UN. arrested for association with Kamuina Nsapu had his thumb cut While most children were handed over within days, at least off with a machete and was left with at least 22 machete scars 95 children0 were detained for as long as 30 days and up to across his body, including his head and face.105 Children were 2014 2015 2016 2017 one year, in violation of the Action Plan signed in 2012 by the regularly held with adults or in isolation cells, and denied food, Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the water and family visits. United Nations to end and prevent child recruitment and use,

ARREST / CAPTUREARREST OF CHILDREN RECRUITED/ CAPTURE BY TOP PERPETRATORS OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY TOP PERPE - TRATORS

FDLR FOCA NYATURA KAMUINA NSAPU RAYIA MUTOMBOKI MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FRPI 100

FDLR FOCA MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

NYATURA FRPI 80 KAMUINA NSAPU NDC-RENOVE

RAYIA MUTOMBOKI

40 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

Starting the Next Chapter: Healing & Returning Home

Thus began boys’ and girls’ next chapter, returning to civilian DDR services consistently outstripped the resources available. life and living in UNICEF partner transitional care while According to UNICEF, at the end of 2017, more than 8,000 families were traced and the process of healing physically and children awaited such support, putting them at high risk of re- emotionally began. Despite the thousands of children who recruitment and raising a clarion call to the donor community. leave armed groups each year and need these basic services to fully reintegrate into their communities, the demand for child

P. 46 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART I: AFTER: How Children Were Separated from Armed Groups

Endnotes

16 Including former Oriental Province, which was 51 220743 88 I 256512 eliminated in the 2015 revision of provincial boundaries. 52 UN Security Council, Resolution 2225, UN Doc. S/ 89 260561, see also 260717, 260074, 251260, 251378 RES/2225, 18 June 2015. 17 Including former Katanga Province, which was 90 255789, 260899, 261015 eliminated in the 2015 revision of provincial boundar- 53 260753 91 ies. 220291 54 163449 92 18 Restrictions to humanitarian access in Tanganyika 180776 55 limited the number of cases verified by the UN, how- 120194 93 238223, 133385, 256872 ever, allegations suggest that the trend is increasing. 56 159059 94 19 Including Kasai, Kasai Central, Kasai Oriental, 154284 57 256866 Lomami and Sankuru Provinces. 95 268604 58 20 237604, 260636, 180791 Note that while the UN had no presence in the 96 251513 Kasai prior to 2016, no allegations of child recruit- 59 238467 ment were received from partners in the region in 97 133990 2014 or 2015. 60 121169 98 Closure of MONUSCO bases due to budgetary 21 Note that figures in this report may differ from 61 These are likely to be underestimates given constraints and the shift to protection through pro- the Secretary-General’s Report on Children in the that data on re-recruitment was not systematically jection is expected to affect children’s possibilities Democratic Republic of the Congo 2014-2017 (forth- collected until 2017 and these figures are based on for safely escaping from armed groups. coming) due to database revisions and the inclusion manual review of narrative case summaries, which of cases documented in January and February 2018. rely on self-disclosures of prior recruitment. 99 133382

22 Note that this list of push factors is not exhaustive 62 187687 100 270730 and refers to reasons shared by children separated from the top seven perpetrators of child recruitment. 63 260658, 256599, 120743, 260786 101 255203 However, children in other groups such as the ADF may cite difference factors, such as religious beliefs. 64 163648, see also 167489, 219002, 256289 102 Note that the 8% figure of children who surrendered or were demobilized does not include children 23 Figures include children recruited under Guidon’s 65 Following Somalia, South Sudan and Nigeria. See who were subsequently arrested or detained. All command while affiliated with NDC-Cheka and who United Nations, Annual Report of the Secretary-Gen- children who were arrested or detained by State remained with his faction after the split. eral on Children and Armed Conflict, UN Doc. agents – whether they arrived in detention after S/2018/465. surrendering or by other means – are included in 24 234489, see also 240780 the following sub-section Capture & Arrest by State 66 United Nations General Assembly, Rome Statute, Agents. 25 197776 17 July 1998, Article 8(2)b(xxvi). 103 260381, see also 260590, 239765, 240794, 26 133669, 145974 see also 180790 67 189372 256017, 256018, 260889

27 211401 68 For a detailed look at recruitment of girls, see 104 246652 MONUSCO, Invisible Survivors: Girls in Armed Groups 28 UNDP, Human Development Report Country in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2009 to 105 195470, 244253 Profile: Congo (Democratic Republic of), 2016. Avail- 2015, 25 November 2015. Available at: https://mon- able at: http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/ usco.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/151202_girls_ COD and http://hdr.undp.org/sites/all/themes/hdr_ in_armed_groups_2009-2015_english_final.pdf theme/country-notes/COD.pdf . OCHA, Overview: Democratic Republic of the Congo, November 2017. 69 246105, Available at: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/ files/resources/OCHA-DRC-Overview-Nov2017.pdf 70 237504

29 148485 71 254762

30 218344 72 205182

31 256012 73 261215

32 163435 74 232290, 232657, 232383, 234484. 234502, 236264, see also 232657. 33 237516 75 254761, see also 256466 34 262013, see also 148144 76 220418 35 137843 77 145890 36 261208 78 260657 37 204316 79 181082 38 234862 80 United Nations, Report of the Secretary-Gen- 39 228517 eral on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, UN Doc. S/2018/250, 23 March 2018. This may either be 40 219972 due to an actual increase in conflict-related sexual violence or in increased reporting of such cases. 41 219960 81 196968, 122369, 220289, 220342, 258698, 42 169198 256800, 256317

43 255786 82 240888

44 251391 83 180789, 180797, 180803, 180804, 180875, 180878, 45 236670 75090, 759091, 75092, 75093

84 46 260501 235146, 243766, 256097

85 47 158604 239125, 259883

86 48 192187. Boy’s father encouraged him to surrender 244220, see also 244267 children witnessed to MONUSCO prior to Rayia Mutomboki attacks. FARDC killing up to 14 children in Masuika, where there are mass graves. 49 154279 87 133370 50 154279

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 47 PART II: IN DEPTH PROFILES OF THE TOP PERPETRATORS OF CHILD RECRUITMENT (2014-2017)

P. 48 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: In-Depth Profiles of the Top Perpetrators Of Child Recruitment

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 49 PART II: In-Depth Profiles of the Top Perpetrators Of Child Recruitment 50% 68% 34% 62% 22% 77% 16%

% OF GIRLS RECRUITED BY FORCE

14% 2% Part I’s analysis of the differences and commonalities between the top seven perpetrators comes from 15% 3% 0% 7% the Part II’s seven in-depth profiles of the top perpetrators of child recruitment in the DRC from 2014 11% to 2017. Mirroring Part I’s Before, During and After Child Recruitment structure, each profile examines % OF GIRLS WHO children’s lives inside armed groups and each group’s modes of recruitment. VOLUNTEERED FDLR 10% FOCA NYAT 11% URA Y KAMUINA F R NSA O TA RAYIA PU R 8% MUTO C N % MB E U 25 MAYI M OK 5 L AYI M I 1 4 D 0% AZ % 4 2% O FRPI EM % 0% V BE 0% ER OF CHI NDC-R 0% ND LD ÉNO 0% E RE V 0% D G N É 3 N RE % 5% 4 9 2 A C 35 2 4 % 9 R R % 4 % % E NDC- U 7 % 3 B OVÉ IT 4 23 4 % M ÉN RY AV 5 R E TA E % U D N RA % OF GIRLS WHO N U G 2 GIRLS L E 12% O F 1 WERE I V O % P LS E R R GIR G C RE-RECRUITED F % A E 7 R D 2 E V A FD 64 L 1 R

E S 3 F MEANS OF CHILD B L 0 O 108 IR 3 M G C RECRUITMENT E % A 5 1 5 Z 0 2 % 1% A 1 7 46% , 3% 1 61% M RE GIRLS A D WE 22% % 4 V E I 9 80% E E IT G 2 1 2 R 11% Y A 7 U ER 7 A R A V % G C A % E E 4 N A R M B - O 3 D E I 5 4 U R C GE Y 4 % TE A 3 3 D ER A 2 3 9 AV % OF GIRLS 8 % M % 4,059 % 3 RECRUITED VIA 5 CHILDREN RECRUITED FROM % 3% ABDUCTION THE TOP 7 PERPETRATORS

S 2% L A D

R FROM 2014 TO 2017 E I B 3% T

G I

5 D

% U % U

% 1

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I 1% R

R E E

L D R A 9% - S 0% E Y WERE GIRLS 8% R I 5 A 4% 5 M 5 U T 91% S O Y WERE BOYS O B M E R B E W O % 91 K GE ERA I ON AV FDLR F ED IN CH OCA A 7 LV ILD NYATURA R VO RE RE 0 IN FOCA N KAMUI S E DLR ’ NA N T 8 F URA S E SA C NYAT S P RAYIA PU & R PU 0% E A MUT A NSA % OM C

O UIN OKI P C 6 MAYI BO A

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S BO BO (5 2 , 9 M M 9

M M % IR % B A T

O , 1 % A TO A TO L O 7

K K F O

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( F %

M M 6 IR F 7 7 8 E E % 8 %

IA AZ IA AZ O L 8 S R % 4 %

Y M Y M F S B ) MONUSCO BASES 5

% G

A I RPI 92% A I RPI 37% G , O % 6 E %

Y F Y F (0 5 O

% I

R A R A R Y % %

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M M R F S % F S F

I 75 I 49 9

VÉ % VÉ % G , ) F ( L 7

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O % E S 9 Y ) % % 1 R S % 3 A ) % G GROUPS E

S E 49% 45% U S R A OF GIRLS RECRUITED R E OF CHILDREN WERE E L N E D R BY TOP PERPETRATORS USED AS COMBATANTS 2 ER E F CHILD & AG E O RE 8 D R WHO SURVIVED AG N % EM VE OB A R FOCA 40% (33% ILIZ FDL OF E SEXUAL VIOLENCE ATURA 41% (44% GIR NY OF LS S SAPU 60% (63 GIR , 4 NA N % O LS 1% U UI OKI 38% (6 F G , 4 O 9% AM OMB 4% IR 0 F 0% R K UT 2 OF LS % B A M ZEMBE 2% (33% GI , 6 O O 0% R YI MA O RL 0 F Y 28% A YI RPI 35% ( F G S % B S E R A F 21% IR , 3 O O ) 3% % % I M OF L 5 F Y 22% N 7 2 Y NOVÉ 28% (26 G S, % S 2 A RÉ % IR 19 O B ) 5% D M C- OF L % F O 0% D G S, Y E N IR 4 O B S E RAGE L 0 F O ) R VE S % Y S A , B S 2% % 2 O O ) & 19 A 8 F Y % D E B S O O ) E L F Y E M B S 7% R O ) O Y % OF GIRLS WHO B S IL 2% ) SURRENDERED IZE OR DEMOBILIZED 2%

40% 84% 19% 88% OF CHILDREN WERE 3 2% 4% 44 8% % 56 48% % UNDER 15 6 0% 9% 6 19% 3% 16%

0% 2% 18% 0% 6% 0% 0% % OF GIRLS WHO % OF GIRLS WHO ESCAPED WERE RELEASED

% OF GIRLS WHO WERE ARRESTED OR CAPTURED

P. 50 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 50% 68% 34% 62% 22% 77% 16%

% OF GIRLS RECRUITED BY FORCE

14% 2% 15% 3% 0% 7% 11%

% OF GIRLS WHO VOLUNTEERED

FDLR 10% FOCA NYAT 11% URA Y KAMUINA F R NSA O TA RAYIA PU R 8% MUTO C N % MB E U 25 MAYI M OK 5 L AYI M I 1 4 D 0% AZ % 4 2% O FRPI EM % 0% V BE 0% ER OF CHI NDC-R 0% ND LD ÉNO 0% E RE V 0% D G N É 3 N RE % 5% 4 9 2 A C 35 2 4 % 9 R R % 4 % % E NDC- U 7 % 3 B OVÉ IT 4 23 4 % M ÉN RY AV 5 R E TA E % U D N RA % OF GIRLS WHO N U G 2 GIRLS L E 12% O F 1 WERE I V O % P LS E R R GIR G C RE-RECRUITED F % A E 7 R D 2 E V A FD 64 L 1 R

S 2% L A D

R FROM 2014 TO 2017 E I B 3% T

G I

5 D

% U % U

% 1

1 R

1 C G T C

I 1% R

R E E

O UIN OKI P C 6 MAYI BO A

S F AM OMB A S 2 MAY K

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R M BE E

I 6 R A ZEM 4 R AZ T

G O I A % FRP E I

3 AY I M PI 0% (0 A M U % U Y FR %

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( F %

M M 6 IR F 7 7 8 E E % 8 %

IA AZ IA AZ O L 8 S R % 4 %

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A I RPI 92% A I RPI 37% G , O % 6 E %

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O % E S 9 Y ) % % 1 R S % 3 A ) % G GROUPS E

40% 84% 19% 88% OF CHILDREN WERE 3 2% 4% 44 8% % 56 48% % UNDER 15 6 0% 9% 6 19% 3% 16%

0% 2% 18% 0% 6% 0% 0% % OF GIRLS WHO % OF GIRLS WHO ESCAPED WERE RELEASED

% OF GIRLS WHO WERE ARRESTED OR CAPTURED

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 51 IN-DEPTH PROFILE: FORCES DÉMOCRATIQUES DE LIBÉRATION DU RWANDA - FORCES COMBATTANTES

Mutwanga ! Mundiba ABACUNGUZI (FDLR FOCA) ! Biambwe !

OICHA Butembo ! Katwa ! Lukomo Vusa ! Kasindi Muhangi ! Musienene ! ! !

Kyondo ! TSHOPO Masereka Ishango LUBERO Lubero ! ! ( Karongo !

Katandele ! Bilundule !

Bingi LAKE EDOUARD Kasinga ! ! Katundu !

Kirumba ! Kisangani Luofu ! !

Vitshumbi Kanyabayonga ! Miriki ! ! Ishasha I ! Buleusa NORD-KIVU ! Rwindi ! Katanda ! Matoto ! Nyamilima ! Kibirizi !

Mpeti Kyahala ! Kisharu ! Kikuku ! Pinga ! Kilima ! ! Nyanzale ! WALIKALE Kashuga I ! RUTSHURU Misoke Bumbi ! Mweso ! ! Kiwanja UGANDA Mpoﬁ Bunyampuli ! ! ! Tongo ( Rutshuru ! Kibua Rubare ! Kitchanga ! ! Kalengera ! Butare Kinyamahura Kashebere Nyabiondo ! ! ! ! ! Mwamvula Katale ! ! Bunagana Kanyatsi ! Masisi ! Mihanga ( Rugari Walikale ! ( Ntoto ! Kirolirwe ! Kabati Kibumba Kahundu ! ! ! Bihambwe Luhanga ! Osso ! ! ! Mushake NYIRANGONGO RWANDA MASISI Karuba ! ! Sake ! Bushi ! Mutiko ! Mugunga ! ! Monigi Ngungu Kirotshe ! Matshumbi ! Itebero ! Mikolo ! Goma ! Minova .! ! Nkuba UNITED NATIONS ! Otobora Kalungu ! ! Numbi ! Child Recruitment Musenge Hombo ! by FDLR FOCA ! from 2014 to 2017

Idjwi ! Country Capital Major Road ( Bushushu .! Province Capital International Boundary ! ( Territory Capital Province Boundary Bunyakiri ! LAKE KIVU ! Relevant Sites Territory Boundary Kalehe ( Myowe Source: MONUSCO Child Protection, June 2018 ! Disclaimer: This product is conﬁdential and exclusive property of United Nations MONUSCO. It should neither be disseminated nor sold outside MONUSCO. This product is designed for MONUSCO operational requirements. The boundaries and names shown SUD-KIVU and the designations used on this map do not imply o cial endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

Lwiro ! Lolo ! Katana ! Number of Children Recruited: Kavumu Butorangwe ! ! Adikivu < 50 ! 50-100 Shifuma ! 100-200 Kabare ( 200-300 300-400 400-500

500-750

750-1000 0 12.5 25 50 1000-2000 Kilometers

P. 52 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 TERRITORY MOTIVE North Kivu (Rutshuru, Lubero), Regime change in Rwanda; Control of natural resources South Kivu (2014 only) ETHNICITY CHILDREN RECRUITED Hutu 111 Total: 1,142 PRIMARY MEANS OF RECRUITMENT Trend: Decrease (Peak 2015) Forced (44%) via abduction (28%); Voluntary (10%) Girls: 5% / Boys: 95% PRIMARY PUSH FACTORS AMONG VOLUNTEERS Abducted: 28% Family/Peer Pressure (47%); Economic (40%); Self-Protection Sexual Violence against Girls: 63% (18%); Revenge/Ethnic Defense (7%) Under 15: 40% Combatants: 20% PRIMARY MEANS OF SEPARATION Re-Recruited: 4% Escape following radio awareness-raising and before FARDC operations (87%, with 22% escaping to MONUSCO); Arrested/ AverageCaptured (9%)

TRENDS IN CHILD RECRUITMENT BY FDLR FOCA

600

TOTAL CHILDREN

500 UNDER 15

ABDUCTIONS

400 COMBATANTS

GIRLS

RERECRUITED 300

NUMBER OF CHILDREN 200

100

2014 2015 2016 2017

The Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda Forces Combattantes Abacunguzi (FDLR BLUE, SEA GREEN, SLATE GRAY, BURNT ORANGE AND DEEPFOCA) PURPLE is a primarily Hutu-based armed group that traces its origins to the Rwandan genocide.

GIRLS UNDER 15 Politically motivated byTOTAL regime CHILDREN change in Rwanda and led by John Love and Dominique Ndaruhutse, receive relatively organized compared to rival armed groups,RE-RECRUITED the significantABDUCTIONS support from the FDLR FOCA and continue FDLR FOCA operates in family structures and actively to collaborate closely with the group, particularly by COMBATANTS COMBATANTS funds its activities via charcoal smuggling, illegal taxation targeting state security forces in Rutshuru Territory. In and natural resource extraction in Virunga National Park. May 2016, internal divisions resulted in a split within the The FDLR FOCA was targeted by the FARDC’s SUKOLA FDLR FOCA and the formation of the breakaway faction, II operations,TOTAL and CHILDREN engaged in frequently clashes with GIRLSthe Conseil NationalUNDER pour 15 le RenouveauCOMBATANTS et la Démocratie 110 Hunde, Tembo, Nande and Nyanga armed groups, e.g. RE-RECRUITED– Ubwiynge (CNRDABDUCTIONS - Ubwiynge). Mayi Mayi Mazembe UPDI and NDC-Rénové, most often in Rutshuru Territory as well as in other parts of North Kivu. Notably, some Nyatura factions, e.g. those

VOLUNTARY “OUR600 STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 53 FORCED 500 UNKNOWN 400

300

200 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100

2014 2015 2016 2017 PART II: FDLR FOCA

I. BEFORE: HOW & WHY CHILDREN WERE RECRUITED BY FDLR FOCA

ION OF FAMILY & ET CTAT HNIC XPE R HU E LABO TU EAP LO CH NT FOR DISLOYA YA SHME L FA LT UNI MIL Y P N BORN INTO FDL IES LDRE R FO CHI CA FENSE S C DE HNI R ET ECTION E/ ROT O NG F-P IC T E EL ONOM EV S EC C R 8% 0% URE % 1 4 ESS 7 PR A ER PE Y/ F IL M A L F % 7 L 4 U

P S

R AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 FDLR PERPETRATORS FOCA

ESCAPED T ARRESTED

C RELEASED

A SURRENDERED

UNDETERMINED

U P

AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 FDLR PERPETRATORS FOCA 10% VOLUNTARY VOLUNTARY FORCED

UNKNOWN

TARY LUN VO 3% 2

44%

UNKNOWN

HOW

FDLR FOCA

O R

RECRUITED C

N CHILDREN

44% FORCED FDLRFOCA

P. 54 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: FDLR FOCA

Push Factors: Why Children Volunteered for FDLR FOCA

Family & Peer Pressure Survival Strategy: Physical Protection

Family and peer pressure was remarkably high among children Because FDLR FOCA operates in family structures, its promise volunteering to join FDLR FOCA: 47% of all child volunteers of protection had a different character than other armed (5% of all children recruited by FDLR FOCA) cited family or groups, prompting 18% of child volunteers to join up. When peer influence as the predominant push factor. This appeared the threat to a child was at home, the hope of mothering by to be an intentional strategy, with children already associated women associated with FDLR FOCA drove some children to with FDLR FOCA convincing other children to join the cause.112 join. For instance, during the 2015 Christmas holidays, a FDLR The children most susceptible to their friends’ and families’ FOCA commander’s wife persuaded one 12-year-old boy to join persuasion were those for whom poverty, unemployment and the group to escape his mother’s abuse.118 Parental death also inability to pay school fees made life in FDLR FOCA appear to made belonging to a family inside the FDLR FOCA safer than be a more viable option: One 14-year-old boy was deceived by remaining outside. A 10-year-old orphan living in Rutshuru with a friend’s promises that he would make more money in FDLR her grandmother was one such case: The wife of a FDLR FOCA FOCA.113 element,119 a friend of the girl’s late mother, persuaded her to join, enticing her with promises of care and clothing.120

Survival Strategy: Economic Support Children’s impulse for survival also kicked in when faced with The temptation of a 50USD monthly salary and regular meals a threat from FDLR FOCA itself and they were given a false was a strong one for children in the DRC, particularly in Rutshuru choice between two bad options. One 15-year-old boy who 114 Territory in North Kivu. With 40% of child volunteers citing was regularly forced to transport FDLR FOCA’s loot calculated economic concerns as their reason for joining, FDLR FOCA that joining the group would be safer than the constant threat recruiters played on children’s most basic human needs: food, of portering for it.121 Sometimes the choice was simply about shelter, and clothes. Recruiters, for example, bought one boy staying alive, e.g. the 11-year-old boy who was caught in a clash 115 juice and cookies to convince him to join, and an 11-year-old between FDLR FOCA and FARDC, and happened to flee in FDLR boy joined after friends bragged that they had so much good FOCA’s direction.122 food that they gained weight.116 Inability to pay school fees after a parent’s death was a preexisting factor in many children’s lives Revenge & Defense of Child’s Family & Hutu Community that made them more vulnerable to persuasion and contributed to their decision to join FDLR FOCA, with one boy reporting For teenage boys who voluntarily joined FDLR FOCA, avenging that a commander in his village recruited him while continuing the daily violence that plagued their communities was a to pay his school fees.117 significant motivator for 7% of child volunteers. The enemy could be general, e.g. the boy who joined FDLR FOCA to protect his family from “robbers” who stole his family’s goats and beat his parents, or the boy who wanted to protect his family from Mayi Mayi Mazembe attacks.123 For others, vengeance was more personal, e.g. for the boy who joined after his mother was killed by Nyatura in 2014.124 The word “revenge” was predominantly used by boy volunteers, not girls. Likewise, it was predominantly boys who were pushed by their families to join FDLR FOCA, e.g. the boy whose family members asked him to enlist to “take revenge against the Nande tribe.”125

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 55 PART II: FDLR FOCA

Pull Factors: Why FDLR FOCA Recruited Children

Expectation of Family & Ethnic Hutu Loyalty Punishment for Disloyal Families

More so than other armed groups operating in Eastern DRC, Children’s testimonies suggested that FDLR FOCA regarded FDLR FOCA lives and operates in family structures, with whole child recruitment as a way to manipulate or punish families that families living together in camps or nearby villages. This fosters did not fall in line with the group’s demands. This was the case an expectation that children related to FDLR FOCA members for a 16-year-old boy recruited alongside his father because his will be loyal to their cause. Children were routinely recruited by father broke a contract the group.131 In rare cases, children were immediate family members associated with the group, e.g. a also regarded as commodities, e.g. the 15-year-old boy “given” 10-year-old boy recruited by his uncle in Rutshuru.126 Indeed, by his father to a FDLR FOCA sergeant to pay off a debt.132 children and parents – usually in father-son pairs – were occasionally recruited together. 127 Children Born into FDLR FOCA

The expectation of tribal loyalty – an extension of family loyalty Given its long history and reliance on family structures, it is – was also a powerful pull factor, with FDLR FOCA recruiters estimated that many children were born into FDLR FOCA, informing parents that their children were “working for the Hutu particularly those born to Rwandan parents and now coming ‘Nation.”128 One 17-year-old boy was abducted by FDLR FOCA of age. However, these same factors, as well as the fact that the on suspicion of belonging to a Nande Mayi Mayi armed group, group reportedly fiercely defends its own children but not those but, when his abductors checked his ID card and discovered who are newly recruited or abducted, make it less likely for that he was Hutu, they recruited him.129 children born into the group to be separated and documented by the UN. The vast majority of documented children began their lives outside of FDLR FOCA. In rare cases, children Cheap Labor born into FDLR FOCA did leave and their stories were starkly Children were regarded as a cheap, plentiful source of labor by different: One 16-year-old boy was born in Lubero Territory to many armed groups but particularly by FDLR FOCA, which had Rwandan refugee parents who fled to Masisi Territory, North a distinctive pattern of forcing children to carry booty pillaged Kivu in 1994. When his father died during clashes with FARDC in from their own homes or fields. With looting as one of its major Masisi in 2015, the boy fled, despite having spent his entire life in means of subsistence, FDLR FOCA frequently used children the bush with his father and FDLR FOCA combatants, with not to carry bananas, juice, mattresses, goats, maize, and other a day spent in school.133 plundered goods.130

P. 56 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: FDLR FOCA

Trigger Violation: Abduction

Alongside recruitment by immediate family members, one of the hallmarks of FDLR FOCA child recruitment was its polar opposite: Abduction. Almost one third of all children recruited by FDLR FOCA (28%) were abducted. The majority of these children (167) were abducted in 2015, when both child recruitment and abductions by the group more than doubled. This suggests that, when threatened by the launch of Sukola II, FDLR FOCA turned to children to fill its ranks.

FDLR FOCA abductions almost exclusively occurred during home.135 Sometimes recruiters allowed abducted children to looting expeditions. The pattern was painfully predictable: leave the FDLR FOCA camp but this brought its own risks. One FDLR FOCA pillaged a village or fields, those not fast enough boy, forced to carry rice to a camp far from his village, could to flee – both children and adults – were abducted, forced to not find his way home and so, rather than become lost alone in carry loot to FDLR FOCA camps, and threatened with death if the bush, stayed with FDLR FOCA.136 FDLR FOCAthey attempted - ABDOUCTION escape. 134 This most frequently occurred when children were in isolated areas, e.g. farming plots or walking to Abductions also coincided with other violations, such as sexual school, or in groups, e.g. while playing football, making them violence or maiming, e.g. scars left by the ropes used to tie easy targets. abductees’ hands.137 In one case, FDLR FOCA targeted three siblings while they farmed their family’s plot; the elements Living in proximity to FDLR FOCA camps or commanders’ home raped the two sisters and recruited their 13-year-old brother.138 villages elevated children’s risk of abduction. In December 2015, a 12-year-old boy had the misfortune of crossing paths with a FDLR FOCA commander on his way home from his family’s vegetableNUMBER field, OFjust CHILDRENadjacent to the ABDUCTED commander’s SHOW field; afterAGAINST THE % OF RECRUITS THROUGH ABDUCTION forcingNUMBER the boy OFto carry CHILDREN his banana RECRUITED crop back to THROUGHcamp, the OTHER MEANS commander threatened to shoot the boy if he tried to return

CHILD RECRUITMENT AND ABDUCTION BY FDLR FOCA

100 RECRUITED THROUGH OTHER MEANS 90 ABDUCTED 80 70 60 50 40

PERCENTAGE 30 20 10

2014 2015 2016 2017

% OF RE-RECRUITS AGAINST TOTAL CHILDREN % OF RE-RECRUITS AGAINST TOTAL CHILDREN

FIRST RECRUITMENT FIRST RECRUITMENT 600 RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED 500

400 2014 2015 2016 2017

300

200 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 57

100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 3% 2% 7% 16% 2014 2015 2016 2017 RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED

% 0.40 FDLR FOCA - ABDOUCTION

PART II: FDLR FOCA

NUMBER OF CHILDREN ABDUCTED SHOW AGAINST THE % OF RECRUITS THROUGH ABDUCTION NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED THROUGH OTHERRe-Recruitment MEANS

In at least 4% of all FDLR FOCA child recruitment cases, a child was recruited for the second, third or fourth time.139 Boys were the exclusive targets of the group’s re-recruitment, with no girls reporting multiple cycles of recruitment. Notably, re-recruitment by FDLR FOCA was on the rise, with 3% of children reporting re-recruitment in 2014 compared to 16% in 2017. 100 RECRUITED THROUGH OTHER MEANS 90 For one boy, re-recruitment came just one day after he reunited Children escaping FDLR FOCA heard stories of re-recruitment ABDUCTED 80 with his family.140 For others, the very same recruiter who first and, out of fear, did not return home at all or returned briefly 70 recruited them found them again, days, weeks, months or years only to flee again.146 One 17-year-old boy escaped FDLR FOCA, 60 after going through the child DDR process.141 In some cases, went through the child DDR process, and reunited with his 50 children revolved through multiple Hutu-majority groups, such family in Rutshuru Territory in 2014, but fled when he heard 40 as Nyatura.142 While escaping was enough of a justification rumors of a plan to re-recruit him. His intuition was right: The PERCENTAGE 30 to be re-recruited, possession of FDLR FOCA “property” was same day that the boy fled, four FDLR FOCA elements came 20 also used as a pretext for re-recruitment. This was the case to his village looking for him, telling his father to hand the boy 10 for a 16-year-old boy re-recruited for the third time ostensibly over.147 because he fled with an AK-47,143 and another for possession 2014 2015 2016 2017 of a uniform.144 FDLR FOCA’s grip on certain villages and IDP Perhaps because the national DDR process has targeted FDLR camps made children who had recently escaped easy to identify. FOCA since December 2014, the group appeared to be acutely One 16-year-old boy was spotted by a FDLR element four days aware of the protection provided by demobilization documents after reunifying with his family; informed that his former escort known as “attestations de sortie” and either targeted children was hiding nearby, the boy’s former commander immediately who did not have their documents148 or destroyed children’s re-recruited him with threats of whipping.145 documents while re-recruiting them.149

% OF RE-RECRUITS AGAINST TOTAL CHILDREN % OF RE-RECRUITS AGAINST TOTAL CHILDREN PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN RE-RECRUITED OUT OF ALL CHILD RECRUITED BY FDLR FOCA

FIRST RECRUITMENT FIRST RECRUITMENT 600 RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED 500

400 2014 2015 2016 2017

300

200

100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 3% 2% 7% 16% 2014 2015 2016 2017 RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED

P. 58 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017

% 0.40 Average

600

TOTAL CHILDREN

500 UNDER 15

ABDUCTIONS

400 COMBATANTS

GIRLS

RERECRUITED 300

NUMBER OF CHILDREN 200

100

PART II: FDLR FOCA 2014 2015 2016 2017

AGE GENDER NATIONALITY BLUE, SEA GREEN, SLATE GRAY, BURNT II. DURING: ORANGE AND DEEP PURPLE

AGE GENDER GIRLS NATIONALITYUNDER 15 LIFE INSIDE FDLR FOCA TOTAL CHILDREN RE-RECRUITED ABDUCTIONS

COMBATANTS COMBATANTS 500 THE PROFILE OF A CHILD RECRUITED BY FDLR FOCA FROM 2014-2017

400

19% TOTAL CHILDREN GIRLS UNDER 15 COMBATANTS OF ALL CHILD SOLDIERS 300 RECRUITED IN THE DRC RE-RECRUITED ABDUCTIONS BETWEEN 2014 AND 20% 200 40% 5% 2% OF CHILDREN USED IN 2017, AND 19%DOCUMENTED WERE UNDER WERE GIRLS WERE FOREIGN COMBATANT ROLES BY OF ALL CHILD SOLDIERS 15 YEARS OLD BORN

BY THE UN, WERE NUMBER OF CHILDREN FDLR FOCA RECRUITEDRECRUITED BY IN THE DRC 100 FDLRBETWEEN FOCA 2014 AND 40% 5% 2% 2017, AND WERE UNDER WERE GIRLS WERE FOREIGN DOCUMENTED 2014 2015 2016 2017 BY THE UN, WERE 15 YEARS OLD BORN FDLR FOCA CHILD AVERAGERECRUITED % OF BY COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD SUPPORT ROLES FROMFDLR FOCAALL FDLR FOCA CHILD TOP 7 PERPETRATORS SUPPORT ROLES CHILD RECRUITMENT BY FDLR FOCA

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY FDLR FOCA

1500 TREND OF CHILD RECRUITMENT BY FDLR FOCA 600 VOLUNTARY ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED 1200 FORCEDIN THE DRC 500 UNKNOWN 900400

2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 62% 600300 OF GIRLS SURVIVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE 200 NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN FDLR FOCA NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300 2014100 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN FDLR FOCA AGAINST GIRLS FROM ALL TOP 7

The Girls & Boys Recruited by FDLR FOCA FENSE C DE HNI ET ECTION One in five 3%children (19%) recruited in the DRC sinceE / 2014R OwereT recruited by FDLR FOCA. On the NG F-P C OF CHILDREN E EL ONOMI EV S EC whole, FDLRSURVIVE FOCA SEXUAL was the top recruiter of children, R recruiting8% 0% 30% UmoreRE children than the second top % 1 4 ESS VIOLENCE IN FDLR 7 PR ER perpetrator, Nyatura.FOCA PE Y/ IL M A However, the trend was a downward one, with a peak in 2015 FGender % 7 that correspondedSEXUAL VIOLENCE to the AGAINST launch of the FARDC’s SUKOLA II 4 BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN FDLR FOCA By comparison, an average of 5% of these children were girls, Operation. That year, FDLR FOCA was forced to leave its long- which is relatively low among other armed groups operating in held strategic positions, both due to the FARDC operations Eastern DRC. There was, however, a notable spike in girls among in December 2015 and to pressure from local armed groups, child recruits in 2016 to 12%, the same year that overall child primarily NDC-Rénové and Mayi Mayi Mazembe/UPDI. These recruitment numbers dropped by more than half. This points to operations caused significant disarray within the FDLR FOCA, the likelihood that the 2015 spike in FDLR FOCA’s overall child and the group may have sought to bolster their ranks with more recruitment reflected a need for boys to fight, rather than girls in child recruitment, while also trying to offset defections and support roles. That said, given the unknown but likely significant surrenders. numbers of children born into FDLR FOCA who do not leave the group, approximately half of which can safely be presumed to Age be girls, it is believed that the actual numbers of girls in FDLR Of the 1,084 boys and 58 girls documented as recruited by FDLR FOCA is far higher than those documented here. FOCA, 40% were younger than 15 years old, with the youngest 9 years old.150 This is one of the highest rates of under 15s among Nationality armed groups in the East, second only to Nyatura. However, in Just 2% of children recruited by FDRL FOCA were cross-border recent years, fewer and fewer young children were recruited by recruitment cases from Rwanda. While the group’s roots may FDLR FOCA, with the percentage of all of its child recruits who have begun in Rwanda, most of the children FDLR FOCA were under 15 years old dropping from 44% in 2015 to 26% in recruited were Congolese, with a handful of children born to 2017. Rwandan parents in Congo.151

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 59

NDC-Rénové

FRPI

Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Rayia Mutomboki

Kamuina Nsapu

Nyatura

FDLR FOCA PART II: FDLR FOCA

Life for Children Inside FDLR FOCA

Initiation Rites & Daily Life Role: Support

Unlike many of its rival armed groups, FDLR FOCA had few Ninety-nine percent of girls recruited by FDLR FOCA were “initiation rites” as such. While one child reported drinking used in support roles, as cooks, domestics and babysitters for liquor and smoking marijuana, alcohol and drug use in the FDLR commanders’ wives. 155 The babysitter role was, for the most FOCA was also not as predominant as in other armed groups.152 part, unique to FDLR FOCA and resulted from the fact that the lives of fighters and families closely intermingled. For example, a 14-year-old girl was persuaded by her cousin to join FDLR Role: Combatant FOCA as a babysitter when his wife was due to have a baby FDLR FOCA, like Nyatura, used a relatively small percentage at his base in Walikale Territory.156 The role was regarded as of its children to fight: 20% of all children recruited by FDLR so necessary – or children as so expendable – that girls were FOCA reported serving in combat. However, this figure belies abducted to carry babies from one base to the next. 157 an increase in child combatant status from 17% in 2015 to 39% in 2017, suggesting that although fewer children were recruited While girls most typically filled support roles in FDLR FOCA, overall in recent years, a steady supply of fighters was a priority. because the group only used 20% of its children as combatants Notably, FDLR FOCA exclusively used boys as combatants, and its family structure entailed the presence of very young unlike its opponent NDC-Rénové: Just one girl reported fighting children, boys also played non-traditional support roles, for FDLR FOCA. including as babysitters. Boys were also charged with more typical support roles: Secretaries, logisticians, looters, cooks, All children – even those who ultimately worked as domestics and domestic servants. Boys were frequently used as spies, – received military training lasting from two days to one-week, with one 11-year-old boy tasked to identify wealthy villagers including on how to operate AK 47s, RPGs and SMGs. This (e.g. those with pigs, goats, etc.) before looting raids.158 appeared to be an “insurance policy,” in case those in support Critically, boys were also active in FDLR FOCA’s illicit activities, roles might be called on to fight as a last resort. However, those including as “tax” collectors to extort villagers for monthly “lala children destined for the frontlines received more extensive salama” (“sleep well”) taxes on market days or at roadblocks, training of up to one month. Those who did see combat fought and producers of charcoal in Virunga National Park.159 Indeed, against FARDC, Nyatura, M23, APCLS, NDC-Cheka and, after children played a central role in the natural resource extraction the group’s internal split, CNRD. Child combatants were not that pumped money into the FDLR FOCA’s coffers. exclusively used to fight, but instead rotated between multiple functions, as did one boy who served as an escort, guard and combatant who fought against FARDC over Christmas and New Years in 2015.153 FDLR FOCA escorts and bodyguards also fell into a grey zone between combatant and support roles. One boy, for example, was used as an escort and was forced to use a Kalashnikov if he felt that his commander’s life was in danger.154

CHILDREN’S ROLES IN FDLR FOCA FROM 2014-2017 CHILDREN’S ROLES IN FDLR FOCA OVER TIME

500

400 500

300 400 20% 200 300 OF CHILDREN USED IN COMBATANT ROLES BY FDLR FOCA20% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100 200 OF CHILDREN USED IN COMBATANT ROLES BY NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100 FDLR FOCA 2014 2015 2016 2017

FDLR FOCA CHILD AVERAGE % OF COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD SUPPORT ROLES FROM ALL 2014 2015 2016 2017 FDLR FOCA CHILD TOP 7 PERPETRATORS SUPPORT ROLES FDLR FOCA CHILD AVERAGE % OF COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD SUPPORT ROLES FROM ALL FDLR FOCA CHILD TOP 7 PERPETRATORS TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED SUPPORT ROLES BY FDLR FOCA 1500 TREND OF CHILD RECRUITMENT BY FDLR FOCA TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY FDLR FOCA ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED 1200 IN THE DRC 1500 TREND OF CHILD RECRUITMENT BY FDLR FOCA P. 60 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED 900 1200 IN THE DRC 62% 600 900 OF GIRLS SURVIVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN FDLR FOCA62% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300 600 OF GIRLS SURVIVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE

0 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300 IN FDLR FOCA 2014 2015 2016 2017

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF 0 AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN FDLR FOCA AGAINST GIRLS 2014 2015 2016 2017 FROM ALL TOP 7

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN FDLR FOCA AGAINST GIRLS FROM ALL TOP 7 FENSE C DE HNI ET ECTION 3% E/ ROT NG F-P FENSE OF CHILDREN E EL NOM IDCE V S ECO NIC SURVIVE SEXUAL E TH ON R 8% 0% /E URTEECTI 3% % 1 4 E ESSRO VIOLENCE IN FDLR 7 NG PR -P OF CHILDREN E ER LF NOMIC FOCA V E SE CO SURVIVE SEXUAL E/P E RLY 8% 0% URE % I 1 4 ESS VIOLENCE IN FDLR 7 M PR A ER FOCA F PE % Y/ 7 IL SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 4 M BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN FDLR FOCA A F % 7 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 4 BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN FDLR FOCA

NDC-Rénové

FRPI NDC-Rénové Mayi Mayi Mazembe FRPI Rayia Mutomboki Mayi Mayi Mazembe Kamuina Nsapu Rayia Mutomboki Nyatura Kamuina Nsapu FDLR FOCA Nyatura

FDLR FOCA 500

400

300

20% 200 OF CHILDREN USED IN COMBATANT ROLES BY FDLR FOCA NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100

2014 2015 2016 2017

FDLR FOCA CHILD AVERAGE % OF COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD SUPPORT ROLES FROM ALL FDLR FOCA CHILD TOP 7 PERPETRATORS SUPPORT ROLES

PART II: FDLR FOCA TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY FDLR FOCA

1500 TREND OF CHILD RECRUITMENT BY FDLR FOCA

ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED 1200 IN THE DRC

900

Violations Triggered by Recruitment: 62% 600 OF GIRLS SURVIVE The Risks Children Faced in FDLR FOCA SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN FDLR FOCA NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300

Sexual Violence 500 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN RECRUITED BY At a glance, sexual violence reported by all children – boys SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF 400 FDLR FOCA FROM 2014-2017AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN FDLR FOCA AGAINST GIRLS and girls – recruited by FDLR FOCA was relatively low at 3%. FROM ALL TOP 7 However, looking just at the experience of girls tells a different 300 story: Out of 57 girls separated from FDLR FOCA, 62% reported 20% 200 OF CHILDREN USED IN NSE being used as concubines or forced to marry their commanders, DEFE COMBATANT ROLES BY NIC NUMBER OF CHILDREN H with one girl “set up” by other FDLR FOCA wives in a violent FDLR FOCA 100 ET ECTION 3% E/ ROT 160 NG F-P C mirroring of the group’s family structures. OF CHILDREN E EL ONOMI EV S EC SURVIVE SEXUAL R 8% 0% URE 2014% 1 20154 ESS2016 2017 VIOLENCE IN FDLR 7 PR ER Killing & Maiming FDLR FOCAFOCA CHILD AVERAGE % OF PE COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTSY/ CHILD SUPPORT ROLES FROM ALL IL FDLR FOCA CHILD TOP 7 PERPETRATORS M Boys associated with FDLR FOCA reported witnessing the SUPPORT ROLES A F % deaths of other children, including one boy who claimed that, 7 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 4 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED in his first battle against NDC Cheka at Rushihe, Masisi Territory, BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN FDLR FOCA BY FDLR FOCA 1500 TREND OF CHILD RECRUITMENT up to 50 children died.161 Once separated, children shared their BY FDLR FOCA ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED emotional distress after witnessing the deaths of so many 1200 IN THE DRC people, children and adults alike.162 Like all combatants, children were at risk of severe injuries, as was the case for a 16-year-old 900 boy who sustained bullet wounds to his right arm during clashes 62% 600 with the FARDC; while the FARDC evacuated him to a hospital, OF GIRLS SURVIVE 163 SEXUAL VIOLENCE

his arm had to be amputated. NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN FDLR FOCA 300

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN FDLR FOCA AGAINST GIRLS FROM ALL TOP 7

FENSE C DE HNI ET ECTION 3% E/ ROT NG F-P C OF CHILDREN E EL ONOMI EV S EC SURVIVE SEXUAL R 8% 0% URE % 1 4 ESS VIOLENCE IN FDLR 7 PR ER FOCA PE Y/ IL M A F % 7 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 4 BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN FDLR FOCA

NDC-Rénové

FRPI

Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Rayia Mutomboki

Kamuina Nsapu

Nyatura

FDLR FOCA

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 61

NDC-Rénové

FRPI

Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Rayia Mutomboki

Kamuina Nsapu

Nyatura

FDLR FOCA 67% 8% 9% 13%

Released

Arrested

Escaped

2% RELEASED

3% OTHER

Other

Released

Arrested

Escaped

600 TOTAL CHILDREN 500 ESCAPED SEPARATED TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 500 RECRUITED 400 ARRESTED 400 Other

Released 300 PART II: FDLR FOCA 300 Arrested Other Escaped 200 200 SurrenderedReleased 100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100 III. AFTER: ReleasedArrested 2014 2015 2016 2017 ArrestedEscaped

2014 2015 2016 2017HOW CHILDREN WERE SEPARATEDEscaped ESCAPED ARRESTED RELEASED SURRENDEREDFROM FDLR FOCA

AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 FDLR PERPETRATORS FOCA ESCAPED 3% ARRESTED OTHER RELEASED

0% SURRENDERED SURRENDERED UNDETERMINED 22% R E H T 2% O

OF CHILDREN IN % RELEASED 3

FDLR FOCA ESCAPE D 6 E HOW 7 R % TO MONSUCO BASES E

D E

S N

C E

A 9% R

P R CHILDREN

ARRESTED U D

LEFT

L FDLR FOCA

FDLR FOCA E

87%

ESCAPED D

AVERAGE OF

ALL PERPETRATORS R

22% OF CHILDREN IN HOW CHILDREN LEFT FDLR FOCA OVER TIME FDLR FOCA ESCAPED TO 500FDLR FOCA 500 MONSUCO BASES AVERAGE OF TOP 7 PERPETRATORS Surrendered

Released 400 400 Arrested

Escaped

300 300

200 200 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

100 100

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014ESCAPED 2015ARRESTED 2016RELEASED SURRENDERED2017

Escape

Like most armed groups, the most common way children left FDLR FOCA was by escape: 87% of all children associated with the group who managed to leave did so by escaping. Notably, this included both children who were abducted and those who “volunteered” to join the group, implying that the child’s original reasons for volunteering did not prove worth the struggle of life within FDLR FOCA.

FDLR FOCA was well aware of children’s impulse to escape and boy, the motivation to escape the group was strong enough to attempted to thwart defections through threats: One 14-year- compel him to walk 120km from Bambo to Mubambiro DDR old boy considered escaping but changed his mind when told camp.166 that, if he returned to his village, his community would kill him.164 A commander told another that his parents would be killed if he escaped.165 These threats, however, did not altogether prevent children from escaping, an indication of the levels of hardship and desperation children endured inside FDLR FOCA. For one

P. 62 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 67% 8% 9% 13%

Released

Arrested PART II: FDLR FOCA

Escaped

Why How

The most common reasons children gave for escaping was Like children associated with other armed groups, those mistreatment by their commanders, extremely difficult living escaping FDLR FOCA were strategic, usually making their move conditions in FDLR FOCA camps, and forced labor.167 For when far from their commanders or when commanders were those who were lured with false promises of financial riches, distracted or inebriated. Escapes occurred most frequently at disillusionment set in and prompted their escape. One boy night, when commanders were on operations, when the child lived near a FDLR FOCA base and joined for the money and was sent to the market for cigarettes or beer, or to collect water free food. However, he decided to escape when he realized that or wood. Children quickly seized opportunities when they arose: 2% 168 RELEASED “everything we took [while looting] was for the commander.” Another child escaped during his commander’s girlfriend’s birthday party.172 Others took advantage of commanders’ Children fleeing FDLR FOCA reported that radio messages willingness to give them permission to visit family members, 3% were highly influential in their decision to escape, particularly in perhaps a result of its own family-based structure. This was OTHER Rutshuru Territory. This included both local radio and MONUSCO’s the case for a 16-year-old boy who asked permission to visit his Radio Okapi.169 Indeed, one 16-year-old boy credited a Radio dying father and never returned.173 Okapi message directed specifically at FDLR FOCA for his Other decision to approach a MONUSCO base at Bambo.170 Children Clashes with FARDC – especially, children reported, during 174 Released in FDLR FOCA are also open to NGO awareness-raising, though Sukola II in 2014 and 2015 – with other armed groups, or not to the extent of Rayia Mutomboki. For example, a 13-year- MONUSCO also gave children the motivation and opportunity to Arrested old boy, escaped in August 2016 after meeting a community escape. Rumors of upcoming operations increased the likelihood sensitizer who told him that “his place is at home and at school, that children would take the risk of escaping. For instance, when Escaped not in an armed group.”171 a 15-year-old boy heard about an upcoming FARDC operation targeting FDLR FOCA, he decided to escape despite the fact 500 600 TOTAL CHILDREN thatESCAPED he had been in the armed group for three years already.175 SEPARATED TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 500 RECRUITED 400 ARRESTED While some children escaped400 on their own, family members, Other other children and even strangers helped children escape FDLR Released 300 300 Arrested FOCA. One boy joined voluntarily but quickly realized it was “a Other Escaped lie” after witnessing people200 beaten and killed. He escaped when 200 a stranger killed his boy-commander with a machete and told SurrenderedReleased 100 176 NUMBER OF CHILDREN the boy to escape. In another case, a 13-year-old boy was sent 100 ReleasedArrested to the market and happened upon his older sister, who helped 2014 2015 2016 2017 the boy escape.177 ArrestedEscaped

2014 2015 2016 2017 Escaped Children often made multiple attempts, despite the harsh ESCAPED ARRESTED RELEASED SURRENDERED punishments doled out when they were caught: One 11-year-old boy was caught and severely beaten with stick after his first 178 AVERAGE attempt to escape, before succeeding on his second try. AMONG TOP 7 FDLR PERPETRATORS FOCA ESCAPED 3% ARRESTED OTHER RELEASED

0% SURRENDERED SURRENDERED UNDETERMINED 22% R E H To Whom T 2% O

OF CHILDREN IN % RELEASED 3

FDLR FOCA ESCAPE D 6 E HOW 7 R % TO MONSUCO BASES E

D 180 E S N

C More than any other armed group, children from FDLR FOCA the MONUSCO Company Operating BaseE (COB) in Kiwanja. A

A 9% R

P R CHILDREN

ARRESTED U D

fled to MONUSCO bases: 22% of all children recruited by FDLR 13-year-old boy’s father, himself a FDLR% FOCA combatant, told

LEFT

FOCA escaped by approaching a MONUSCO base. MONUSCO the boy to approach the MONUSCO COBD in Masisi Centre when

L FDLR FOCA

FDLR FOCA E

bases, particularly Kitchanga, were clearly well known among the threat from Rayia Mutomboki became serious; his father was

87%

ESCAPED D

AVERAGE OF

E boys associated with FDLR FOCA. Children reported viewing apparently aware that approaching MONUSCO could facilitate

ALL PERPETRATORS R

the Mission’s bases as safe zones, with many boys approaching the boy’s repatriation to Rwanda, where his mother lived.181 them on their own, or on the suggestion of trusted adults or peers.179 However, this was almost exclusively the case among boys, with just one girl seeking safety from MONUSCO base. In a typical example, when an Institut Congolais pour la 22% Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) park ranger spotted two FDLR OF CHILDREN IN FDLR FOCA FOCA-associated boys drawing water, he helped them escape to ESCAPED TO FDLR FOCA MONSUCO BASES AVERAGE OF TOP 7 PERPETRATORS

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 63 PART II: FDLR FOCA

Arrest by Congolese Authorities

Relative to their peers in the East, children associated with FDLR FOCA had high rates of arrest or capture as their means of separation. At least 9% of all children recruited by FDLR FOCA – over 100 children – found themselves in detention and all of these children were boys.182

Arrest during or following combat with FARDC was a common arrest and detention – beating, solitary confinement, and scenario. One 14-year-old child was arrested and detained for deprivation of food, water, visitors and sanitation facilities. Boys one month after FARDC ambushed his unit in Masisi in October formerly associated with FDLR FOCA also reported longer than 2016.183 Others escaped the group independently, only to be average periods of detention lasting multiple months, often in intercepted by FARDC, ANR, or PNC on their way home. several different detention centers. For instance, one 13-year- old boy was stabbed with a bayonet in his face, arms and back, Second to children from Kamuina Nsapu, children from FDLR and seriously beaten by the FARDC elements who arrested him, FOCA reported the next highest levels of ill treatment during before being transferred to the Sukola II detention center.184

Release

While not unheard of, release of children by FDLR FOCA commanders was a rarity. The group’s commanders released just 2% of all children recruited, with the majority of these being girls. In fact, 19% of girls recruited by FDLR FOCA were ultimately released by their commander, compared to 1% of boys. The reasons that commanders agreed to release children from their ranks appeared to be threefold: Mourning family members – again a nod to FDLR FOCA’s own family basis, medical treatment, or bribery.

In one remarkable case, a 16-year-old boy who was recruited FDLR FOCA was remarkably amenable to bribes and financial by his own father, an FDLR FOCA colonel, was released by his incentives offered by families in exchange for releasing their father’s escort after the boy’s father was killed during fighting children. Like Nyatura, families’ payment of bribes to release in December 2015. The boy then approached a MONUSCO base children from FDLR FOCA was extensive, but, unlike Nyatura, in Nyanzale, Rutshuru Territory.185 In another case, a 14-year-old the prices demanded were not high enough to characterize boy’s commander released him after receiving news that the abduction of children for recruitment purposes as kidnap boy’s mother had died.186 for ransom or a concerted financial strategy. Bribes paid by children’s parents and family members ranged from 10USD, a Among those children released for medical treatment, girls goat and a case of beer for two 13-year-old girls to 160USD for were most likely to benefit. This points to the often-overlooked a 13-year-old boy.189 physical risks that girls faced from sexual violence.187 Take the case of one 16-year-old girl who was abducted from the fields Finally, while uncommon for FDLR FOCA, boys were occasionally and was used as a “wife” of a FDLR FOCA captain. One month released on the battlefield, as was one 16-year-old combatant later, she was pregnant. Her “husband” gave her medicine to who was released by his commander during FARDC Sukola II trigger a miscarriage, which made her seriously ill. The girl was operations in Rutshuru Territory in February 2015.190 transferred to a health center and ultimately was released to her parents care.188

P. 64 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: FDLR FOCA

Endnotes

106 Percentage of girls who disclosed sexual violence, not 132 207412 166 220435, 220437, see also 220441 all children recruited (i.e. Boys) due to very low disclosure rates among boys. 133 236534 167 148271

107 Data includes children documented as recruited by 134 132824, 131421 168 179893 FDLR FOCA and the general term FDLR. This does not 135 169 include children recruited by CNRD or FDLR RUD. 180859 73149, see also 73030

136 170 108 The remainder of cases not covered by forced or vol- 148269 122653, see also 122725 untary methods of recruitment are “unknown recruitment 137 133384 171 220025 methods/reasons.”

138 172 109 Figures based on MONUSCO Child Protection case 123435 220015, see also 122623 analysis. Force figures may differ. Note that this refers only 139 This is likely an underestimate due to the fact that data 173 237277, see also 176687, 123233 to Force, not DDR. on re-recruitment was not systematically collected until 174 122113 110 This analysis does not cover recruitment by CNRD, 2017 and this figure is based on case-by-case analysis. though it may include children originally recruited by FDLR 140 245521, see also 117995 175 105541, see also 122164, 122725 FOCA who remained with CNRD following the split (e.g. 123421). 141 14511, see also 145351, 146120, 187265, 187687, 17346, 176 122284 192166, 207206, 159189, 122624 111 Children frequently refer to FDLR FOCA simply as 177 198911 “FDLR.” This analysis includes cases reported on in Annual 142 122714, see also 214028 Reports under “unidentified FDLR” and “FDLR FOCA.” 178 83977 143 187214 112 123498, see also 190203, 219963, 220533, 123231, 179 230178, 230543 129946, 148258, 148274, 148789 144 187265 180 187716 113 148280 145 190937, see also 193427 181 192187 114 257023, see also 178977 146 110346, see also 134173, 134172, 220024, 122647, 134453, 182 197420, 128274, 129871, 130501 This figure is likely an underestimate, as children may 115 237282, 73258 be arrested following escape and documentation. 147 149467 116 133384 183 213959 148 122653 117 178730, see also 247742, 148804, 178931, 220027, 184 217816 149093 149 212951 185 173870 118 180124 150 260688 186 230548, see also 148791 in which a commander friend 119 “Element” refers to a member of an armed group, 151 123050, 144731 of the child’s father releases the boy. whether combatant or support. It is used primarily in reference to adults, whereas child elements are referred to 152 135428, 256757 187 220397, 220284, 220347 as child soldiers, children (formerly) associated with armed 188 groups or recruited children. 153 173206 220438

189 120 187900, see also 122621 154 134159 148787, 189973, 189979 and 217780, see also 134716, 220319, 196507 121 122726 155 121887 190 122065 122 148277, see also 220022 156 189976, see also 189977, 189977

123 123421, 148259 and 148269 157 122728, see also young boys playing this role as in 97507 124 135649, see also 180065 158 220024 125 123671 159 70843 126 122615, see also 134343 and 159391 by fathers, 74010 and 220706 by brothers, and 220415 by cousin. 160 123232, 220339, 220395, 220528, 238233, 238358, 189673, 197460, see also girls ages 11, 12 in 197782 127 123321 161 159583, see also 230178, 147209, 204434 128 220428 162 256850 129 260894 163 147209, see also 230178, 237066 130 122661, 148276 164 180120 131 123416 165 238243

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 65 IN-DEPTH PROFILE:

NYATURA !

Katandele !

Bilundule !

Bingi Kasinga ! LAKE EDOUARD ! Katundu ! LUBERO

Kirumba ! Kisangani Luofu ! !

Vitshumbi Kanyabayonga ! Miriki ! ! Ishasha I ! Buleusa ! Rwindi ! Katanda ! UGANDA Matoto ! Nyamilima ! Kibirizi ! Kyahala Mpeti ! Kisharu ! Kikuku ! Pinga ! Kilima ! ! Nyanzale NORD-KIVU ! Kashuga I ! RUTSHURU Misoke Bumbi ! Mweso ! ! Kiwanja Mpoﬁ Bunyampuli ! ! ! Rutshuru ( Tongo ! Rubare Kibua ! ! Kitchanga ! Kalengera ! Butare Kinyamahura Kashebere Nyabiondo ! ! ! ! ! Mwamvula Katale ! ! Bunagana Kanyatsi ! Masisi Mihanga ! ( Rugari Walikale ! ( Ntoto ! Kirolirwe ! MASISI Kabati Kibumba Kahundu ! ! ! Bihambwe Luhanga ! Osso ! ! ! Mushake

Karuba! ! NYIRANGONGO ! Kirotshe Sake Mutiko ! Mugunga ! ! Monigi Ngungu ! Matshumbi ! Itebero ! Mikolo ! Goma ! Minova .! ! RWANDA Nkuba ! Otobora Kalungu ! ! Numbi !

Hombo Musenge ! ! LAKE KIVU

Idjwi KALEHE ( Bushushu !

Bunyakiri ! Kalehe ( IDJWI Myowe !

Lwiro ! ! Katana UNITED NATIONS Kavumu Butorangwe ! ! SUD-KIVU Adikivu Child Recruitment ! by Nyatura Shifuma KABARE ! from 2014 to 2017 Kabare ( Country Capital Major Road Bukavu ! .! .! Province Capital International Boundary ( Territory Capital Province Boundary BUKAVU! Panzi ! Relevant Sites Territory Boundary Walungu Source: MONUSCO Child Protection, June 2018 ( Disclaimer: This product is conﬁdential and exclusive property of United Nations MONUSCO. It should neither be disseminated Lubimbe II nor sold outside MONUSCO. This product is designed for MONUSCO ! Cizibamunya operational requirements. The boundaries and names shown ! and the designations used on this map do not imply o cial Lubimbe endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. ! Gweshe ! Rushebeyi Mubone ! Wangoye ! ! Kamanyola Number of Children Recruited: ! < 50 50-100

100-200

200-300 300-400 400-500

500-750

750-1000 0 12.5 25 50 1000-2000 Kilometers

P. 66 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 TERRITORY MOTIVE North Kivu (Rutshuru, Masisi), Hutu self-defense; Control of natural resources; Taxation South Kivu (Kalehe) ETHNICITY Hutu CHILDREN RECRUITED Total: 807 PRIMARY MEANS OF RECRUITMENT Trend: Steady (Peak 2015) Forced (51%); Voluntary (11%) Girls: 5% / Boys: 95% PRIMARY PUSH FACTORS AMONG VOLUNTEERS Abducted: 34% Family & Peer Pressure (38%); Economic (29%); Sexual Violence Among Girls: 83% Self-Protection (23%); Revenge/Ethnic Defense (7%) Under 15: 41% Combatants: 21% PRIMARY MEANS OF SEPARATION Re-Recruited: 8% Escape (90%, 18% to MONUSCO); Arrest (4%); Release (2%)

Average

TRENDS IN CHILD RECRUITMENT BY NYATURA Girls Under 15 Combatants Abductions Total Children Recruited 300 300 TOTAL CHILDREN

UNDER 15

ABDUCTIONS 250 250 COMBATANTS

GIRLS 200 200

150 150

100NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100

50 50

20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017

Nyatura0 has become an umbrella term for local illegal natural resource exploitation. Nyatura factions BLUE, SEA GREEN, SLATE GRAY, BURNT ORANGE AND DEEPCongolese PURPLE Hutu militias, operating primarily in North generally have low levels of organization and have Kivu (Masisi, Rutshuru) and South Kivu (Kalehe) since proved themselves to be fractious. The groups are

GIRLS UNDER 15 2011, although their originsTOTAL can CHILDREN be traced back to 2008- characterized by their loose structures, fluid alliances,

09. As such, ‘Nyatura’ should not be regarded RE-RECRUITEDas a single, andABDUCTIONS frequent breakaway factions. This remains the case homogenous group, but rather as a range of Congolese today, where the split of the CNRD from FDLR FOCA in COMBATANTS COMBATANTS Hutu armed spoilers, who collaborate with other Hutu- May 2016 forced a reconfiguration of Nyatura alliances majority groups in varying degrees. All factions share and exacerbated inter-Hutu armed group rivalries in similar stated objectives to ‘defend’ Hutu populations, Masisi and Rutshuru territories. However, some factions,

mainly againstTOTAL Hunde, CHILDREN Nande and historically Tutsi armed GIRLSlike Nyatura DomiUNDER and 15 John Love, COMBATANTSare better organized groups, often in areas with weak state security presence. and actively collaborate with FDLR FOCA. Nyatura RE-RECRUITED ABDUCTIONS Nyatura groups are community-based, and may also sources its finances from illegal taxation primarily. fight the FARDC, as well as consistently engaging in predatory activities targeting the local population and,

300 “OUR300 STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 67

250 250

200 200 VOLUNTARY FORCED UNKOWN

150 150

100 100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50 50

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

VOLUNTARY FORCED UNKNOWN 2014 2015 2016 2017 81% 20% OF GIRLS OF BOYS ARE ABDUCTED ARE ABDUCTED

PART II: Nyatura

ABDUCTION OTHER MEANS

BEFORE: HOW & WHY CHILDREN WERE RECRUITED BY NYATURA

EXTORT FAMILIES ISH & AND PUN ND POW CO SIZE A ER MM ILD UN BU IT IE FENSE S S C DE HNI R ET ECTION E/ ROT O NG F-P E EL NOMIC T V S ECO GIRLS BOYS E % % C R 3 29 SURE % 2 RES 7 R P A E TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED PE TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED Y/ 100 100100 F IL M A F VOLUNTARY L 80 % 80 VOLUNTARY 80 L 8 FORCED 3 FORCED U 60 60

P S 40 40 PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE

R 20 20

T 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 C

A 2014 2015 2016 2017

U P

AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 PERPETRATORS NYATURA 11% VOLUNTARY VOLUNTARY FORCED

UNKNOWN

TARY LUN 645 VO 3% 2

37%

UNKNOWN = 645

HOW 156 / 645

NYATURA 4

5 %

= 0.2418604651162791

RECRUITED E

N CHILDREN 182 / 645 K

= 0.2821705426356589

51% FORCED 307 / 645 NYATURA = 0.475968992248062

P. 68 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Nyatura

Push Factors: Why Children “Volunteered” to Join Nyatura

Family & Peer Pressure Survival Strategy: Physical Protection

Similar to FDLR FOCA, family members and peers were key One quarter of child volunteers judged that Nyatura could meet enablers of children joining Nyatura.191 Among the 11% of child not only their economic needs but also their need for physical recruits who opted to volunteer for Nyatura, 38% did so under protection. Indeed, many children who “volunteered” for the influence of their parents, siblings or friends. For example, Nyatura did so to save their lives. Sometimes a child was under one 16-year-old boy was visiting his brother, a Nyatura element, threat at home, like the 16-year-old searching for protection when his brother begged him to stay and help him fight.192 after an altercation with his neighbors.200 Sometimes the threat Women associated with Nyatura targeted girls, another similarity came from Nyatura itself, e.g. the 14-year-old boy who found with FDLR FOCA’s use of mother figures as recruiters. This was himself with nowhere to go during clashes between Nyatura the case for a 12-year-old girl deceived by a Nyatura-affiliated and another armed group, and turned toward Nyatura201 or the woman, who used her as a domestic and cook. However, far pair of 15-year-old boys who were beaten by Nyatura elements fewer girls “volunteered” for Nyatura than FDLR FOCA; rather, on commander’s orders until the boys agreed to join.202 most were abducted into the group.193 Relative to FDLR, the use of family and peer recruitment by Nyatura was less fervent and Revenge & Protection of Family or Community targeted. Friendly familiarity with and regular casual exposure to Nyatura elements had an equally significant an impact on Hutu self-defense motivations played a minor role in just 7% of children joining Nyatura as active peer recruitment did for children who volunteered for Nyatura, a reflection of the group’s FDLR FOCA. For instance, children and combatants rubbed less clearly articulated motivations. For example, one 14-year- shoulders while frequenting a store where a child worked, or old boy was persuaded by his friends to join Nyatura to fight 203 during the happenstance of a 13-year-old boy visiting his cousin Mayi Mayi groups threatening his community in Kitchanga. while his cousin’s friend, a Nyatura element, was also visiting.194 Children joining Nyatura for reasons of self-defense appeared This may be due to the fact that Nyatura is community-based to define their community more narrowly – e.g. a 17-year-old and is viewed as a part-time duty of able-bodied community boy joining to protect his village from harassment of opposing 204 members, with men often on standby from their normal jobs in Nyatura groups – compared to child volunteering for FDLR case of clashes and boys attending school in the morning while FOCA who proclaimed to fight for the Hutu “Nation.” manning checkpoints in the afternoon. Avenging the death of a parent, particularly a father, also led boys to volunteer.205 Notably, the fact that the father was a Survival Strategy: Economic Support member of a different armed group mattered less than the fact One third of all children who volunteered for Nyatura made a that Nyatura was fighting the same enemy. For example, one basic economic calculation to guarantee their income, status, 15-year-old boy volunteered for Nyatura to avenge the death of and, in some cases, survival. One 17-year-old boy wanted to his father, an APCLS combatant killed by the FARDC.206 join Nyatura because he believed that, with his good grades and high academic level, he would have the chance to earn a Escape Punishment high rank.195 In a classic better-on-the-inside-than-the-outside calculus, others simply volunteered to avoid being harassed by On rare occasions, boys would join Nyatura to avoid punishment 207 the group for “taxes” every day.196 for a crime, such as rape, or a social transgression. A 16-year- old boy who had impregnated a girl and was being pursued by Frequently, family circumstances just prior to a child’s choice her family judged it safest to join Nyatura, where he hoped to 208 could tip the scales toward Nyatura, whether the death of a find refuge. parent, abuse, rejection by a step-parent, or inability to pay school fees.197 For example, one 16-year-old boy was first abducted and recruited by Nyatura after the group attacked his village and killed his parents. He escaped and reunited with his uncle but rejoined because the poverty at home was worse than in the bush.198

Nyatura played on these vulnerabilities, with recruiters making financial or material propositions to the children most vulnerable to them: One 16-year-old boy was swayed by promises that “every day [he] would eat meat.”199

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 69 PART II: Nyatura

Pull Factors: Why Nyatura Recruited Children

Build Size and Power Punish & Extort Families and Communities

Since 2015, inter-armed group clashes, pitting Nyatura factions Like many armed groups that control territory in the absence against Nande-majority groups in Rutshuru Territory, have been of the State, Nyatura commanders used child recruitment a consistent feature of the conflict. Child recruitment appears to as a control mechanism, punishing or extorting families into remain a consistent tactic in bolstering the strength of Nyatura submission. For example, a 14-year-old displaced boy was in such clashes. recruited because his father refused to perform the mandatory community work ordered by Nyatura elements controlling According to children interviewed, Nyatura commanders clearly Kazinga, Masisi Territory, North Kivu.216 Moreover, State security judged that recruiting children was an easy way to increase its presence remains weak or absent in areas dominated by Nyatura size and power either after heavy losses or defections in battle, groups, e.g. outside Nyanzale. This lack of military pressure or when preparing for operations.209 Children, particularly those allows Nyatura to continue to abduct and recruit children, for abducted, were remarkably articulate about this reason for the most part with impunity. their recruitment, describing active recruitment campaigns, particularly in the Katoyi area of Masisi Territory, North Kivu in 2014 and 2015.210 A 15-year-old boy who volunteered during a Nyatura recruitment campaigns was well aware that its purpose was to “strengthen the ranks of Nyatura.”211 Recruitment campaigns took the form of speeches and house-to-house searches for boys and young men, e.g. two 16- and 17-year-old boys taken along with a group of 50 others from their village in Rutshuru.212 Occasionally, campaigns were subtler, e.g. a Nyatura recruiter in Rwankere who invited children for interviews in his office.213

Most frequently, these campaigns took the form of abductions. This was the experience of a 13-year-old boy who was abducted when Nyatura rounded up all the young boys and some adults in his village.214 Sometimes recruitment drives, abductions and looting took place all at once: Three birds, one stone. This was the case for a 15-year-old boy who was abducted during a nighttime looting and recruitment raid on his village; when his father attempted to intervene, the man was shot dead.215

P. 70 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Nyatura

Trigger Violation: Abduction

Since 2014, Nyatura groups abducted at least 275 children just for the purpose of their recruitment. This figure – a conservative reading of children’s cases – amounts at least one in three children recruited by Nyatura becoming associated via the preliminary violation of abduction. Similar to other top perpetrators, the trend in abduction by Nyatura clearly mirrors the group’s overall rate of child recruitment, with a surge in 2015. Ninety-three percent of all abductions of children perpetrated by Nyatura were for the purpose of recruitment and use.

Nyatura abductions followed the FDLR FOCA model of Parents, grandparents and other family or community members abduction via forced portering. For instance, Nyatura elements present during abductions were known to plead with Nyatura abducted a 15-year-old boy from his home during a looting raid to not take their children, offering whatever items of value they on his village. They forced him to carry items looted from his might have. For example, a 16-year-old boy was tied up and home to Nyatura positions in Mukengwa, after which he was not taken away after his abductors refused all the gifts offered by allowed to return home.217 Abductions by Nyatura affected both his grandfather.220 If the offer was not good enough, Nyatura boys and girls, whereas volunteering or deception by family frequently threatened to kill the family member for good and friends was an almost exclusively male phenomenon. This measure before taking the children.221 is a notable difference from FDLR FOCA, for which both boys and girls were “deceived” into volunteering. Abductors were Sometimes, abduction was a last resort after Nyatura’s earlier predominantly combatants or looters, however, in at least one attempts to cajole children into volunteering failed. In February case, men in civilian clothing abducted children.218 2017, a woman in Nyatura was advocating for the girls and women in a 15-year-old girl’s community to join the armed group. Nyatura appeared to specifically target students for abductions, The older woman picked out the girl, offering her a “special gift” perhaps because their journeys to and from school made them if she volunteered. Three days after the girl refused the gift, the easy targets: When Nyatura elements abducted two 14-year- woman, accompanied by armed Nyatura combatants, abducted old boys on their way home from school, they also burned their the girl.222 Any attempts by abducted children to escape during schoolbooks, as if to remind the boys that their lives as students their forced march or on arrival brought harsh punishment, with were over.219 children bound and beaten.223 67% 8% 9% 13%

Released

Arrested

Escaped

CHILD RECRUITMENT AND ABDUCTION BY NYATURA 2014-2017

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED CHILDREN ABDUCTED 300 TOTAL NUMBER OF TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED CHILDREN RECRUITED 250 TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED 300 200 TREND LINE 250 150 200 100 150

2% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50 RELEASED 100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

2014 2015 2016 2017 20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017 2014 2015 2016 2017 3% OTHER

Other

Released

Arrested

Escaped

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 71 600 TOTAL CHILDREN 500 ESCAPED SEPARATED TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 500 RECRUITED 400 ARRESTED 400 Other

Released 300 300 Arrested Escaped 200 200 100 Other NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100 Surrendered 2014 2015 2016 2017 Released 2014 2015 2016 2017 Arrested

Escaped

AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 NYATURA PERPETRATORS 2% ESCAPED UNKNOWN 2% ARRESTED SURRENDERED RELEASED 2% SURRENDERED RELEASED ER TH UNDETERMINED O 22% % 3

OF CHILDREN IN D E R 4% E NYATURA ARRESTED D N E R HOW R

% 7

3 %

E CHILDREN

D E

90% E

D S

ESCAPED A LEFT E

NYATURA

AVERAGE OF R

ALL PERPETRATORS

18% OF CHILDREN IN NYATURA ESCAPED TO MONSUCO BASES NYATURA AVERAGE OF TOP 7 PERPETRATORS

AVERAGE ACROSS TOP 7 ESCAPED ARRESTED RELEASED SURRENDERED/DEMOBILIZED % SOUGHT MONUSCO BASE OTHER 67% 8% 9% 13% 10% 3% PART II: Nyatura

Re-Recruitment

Of the top perpetrators of child recruitment in the DRC, Nyatura The merry go round of re-recruitment brought children in had the highest rate of re-recruitment: At least 8% of children, and out of Nyatura as well as other armed groups, usually mostly boys, associated with Nyatura were recruited multiple those dominated by the same ethnicity, with many children times. This may be a function of the tight grip that Nyatura had also passing through the ranks of FDLR FOCA. For example, on Hutu and other communities in territory under its control, one 16-year-old boy was first recruited at age 13 by Nyatura. where combatants intermingle regularly with civilians and He was released but re-joined voluntarily. One week later, his keep close tabs on families. This made it easy to pluck children commander was beheaded in an internal power struggle and from their homes, as was the case for the 15-year-old boy re- he escaped to join FDLR FOCA. Finding life no better there, he recruited the day after he escaped to his family.224 Children escaped and reunited with his family. Three days later, he was were personally known not only to their commanders but also re-recruited by Nyatura.227 to their original recruiters, who kept an eye out for their “army.” One 16-year-old boy reunited with his family but, one month Re-recruitment by Nyatura both caused displacement and later, was re-recruited by the same perpetrator while looking resulted from it, particularly in Rutshuru Territory, North Kivu. for work at the same mining site where he was first recruited in Displaced children made for easy targets for re-recruitment, Rubaya, Masisi Territory, North Kivu. The recruiter recognized without the protective factors of an intact family and community and abducted him after tearing up his “attestation de sortie,” structures.228 The threat of re-recruitment from their family the official document that protects children formerly associated homes also forced children to leave home, even when their with armed groups from arrest by authorities.225 families were not displaced. This was the case for two boys facing threats of re-recruitment by their former commander in Re-recruitment by Nyatura appeared to function as a revolving 2014. The boys left their parents’ homes in Rutshuru two weeks door. Children passed in and out of Nyatura more frequently after reunification, making their way on foot and by taxi to Lac than other armed groups, with some children re-recruited – Vert IDP camp outside Goma. When the threats followed them both forcibly and voluntarily – up to four times over as many to the IDP camp, the boys fled again, approaching FARDC in years. For example, a 15-year-old boy was first recruited in Mubambiro for protection.229 2013, escaped and was re-recruited again in late 2013, escaped a second time and, after his mother died, voluntarily re-joined Nyatura in 2014 because he found “life outside too difficult,” before finally escaping for a third time.226

P. 72 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Nyatura

AGE GENDER NATIONALITY IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A DURING: HALF OF THE MILITIA’S AGE GENDER NATIONALITY EXISTENCE, NYATURA IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF OF THE MILITIA’S WASEXISTENCE, THE THIRD NYATURA HIGHEST CHILD RECRUITER IN THE DRC SINCE 2014 AND THE CHILDREN’S LIVES INSIDE NYATURA WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST NUMBER ONE RECRUITER CHILD RECRUITER IN THE 250 250 OF CHILDREN IN 2017: 370 DRC SINCE 2014 AND THE Support CHILDREN (58 GIRLS, 312 NUMBER ONE RECRUITER BOYS) AND 264 CHILDREN Combatants OF CHILDREN IN 2017: 370 (25 GIRLS, 239 BOYS) WERE 200 200 CHILDREN (58 GIRLS, 312 THE PROFILE OF A CHILD RECRUITED BY NYATURA FROM 2014-2017 RECRUITED BY THE MILITIA BOYS) AND 264 CHILDREN IN 2017 AND 2016, (25 GIRLS, 239 BOYS) WERE RESPECTIVELY. 150 150 RECRUITED BY THE MILITIA IN 2017 AND 2016, RESPECTIVELY. 21% 13% OF CHILDREN USED IN OF ALL100 CHILD SOLDIERS 100 COMBATANT ROLES BY RECRUITED IN THE DRC 13% NYATURA OFBETWEEN ALL CHILD 2014 SOLDIERS AND 41% 5% 2% #1 NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECRUIT RECRUITED2017, AND50 IN THE DRC 50 WERE UNDER WERE GIRLS ARE FOREIGN BORN #1ER IN DOCUMENTEDBETWEEN 2014 AND 15 41%YEARS OLD 5% 2% BY2017, THE AND UN, WERE WERE UNDER WERE GIRLS ARE FOREIGN BORN RECRUIT2017 RECRUITED BY NYATURA DOCUMENTED 0 2014 15 YEARS OLD2015 2016 2017 ERWITH IN BY THE UN, WERE 2017370 NYATURA CHILD AVERAGERECRUITED % OF BY NYATURA COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD SUPPORT ROLES WITHCHILDRE FROM ALL TOP 7 2014 2015 2016 2017 370N NYATURA CHILD PERPETRATORS CHILDRERECRUIT SUPPORT ROLES CHILD RECRUITMENT BY NYATURA NED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED RECRUITOF ALL CHILDREN BY NYATURA TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL EDRECRUITED IN THE 1500 TREND OF CHILD RECRUITMENT OFDRC ALL ARE CHILDREN RECRUITED BY NYATURA RECRUITEDBY NYATURA IN THE ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED DRC ARE RECRUITED 1200 IN THE DRC BY NYATURA 900

73% 600 OF GIRLS SURVIVE 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 SEXUAL VIOLENCE

IN NYATURA NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN NYATURA AGAINST GIRLS FROM ALL TOP 7 The Girls & Boys Recruited by Nyatura EFENSE IC D Nyatura factions were the second most prolific recruiters in theH NDRC, bringing 766 boys and 38 girls into ET ECTION 5% E/ ROT NG F-P C their ranks sinceOF CHILDREN2014. However, like FDLR FOCA, Nyatura’sE childEL recruitmentONOMI nearly doubled from 2014 EV S EC SURVIVE SEXUAL R 3% 9% URE to 2015, when it peaked in the heat of military operations,% 2 and2 has sinceESS decreased. Children reported VIOLENCE IN 7 PR ER NYATURA PE that up to half of their units comprised children, with some assignedY/ to child-only units, of an average of IL M A 230 20 combatants, though some numbered up to 125 elements. F % 8 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 3 BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN NYATURA Age Gender ABDUCTED OVER TIME BY YEAR More than a third (41%) of all children recruited by Nyatura were On average, girls represented 5% of all children documented as ABDUCTED OVER TIME BY YEAR under 15. However, in an encouraging shift, this percentage recruited and used by Nyatura but their recruitment appeared decreased from more than half (52%) in 2014 to 33% in 2017. to be converse to the overall trend in child recruitment by the group. In 2014 and 2017 – the years of Nyatura’s lowest

AGE OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY NYATURA FROM 2014-2017 recruitment levels – girls were 7% of new recruits, while in 2015 100 CHILDREN– the year ABDUCTED with the highest level of recruitment – girls were just 100 80 BY NYATURA 90 80 3% of documented new recruits.400 Given400 the stark gender roles 90 Abducted Zero 70 CHILDREN ABDUCTED 80 350 350 80 70 BY NYATURA Recruited 80 80 of boys and girls within the 400group, 400this suggests that, when 60 70 Abducted Zero 70 60 300350 350300 70 70 Nyatura was recruiting most heavily in 2015, it was searching for Recruited 60 % 5060 50 250 250 60 60 60 combatants, a role that only boys300 play300 in the group. However, 50 50 40 40 200 200 50 50 50 Nyatura is widely believed to 250recruit 250girls at much higher rates 40 40 30 40 40 30 150 150 40 than has beenPERCENTAGE documented. The200 challenge200 is to better combat 30 30 PERCENTAGE 30 CHILDREN RECRUITED 20 20 100 100 BY NYATURA 30NUMBER OF CHILDREN 30 stigma and encourage girls formerly150 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 150affiliated with Nyatura to 20 20 20 10 50 50 CHILDREN RECRUITED 20 10 come forward to claim DDR benefits,100 which allows them to also 20 % 100 BY NYATURA 8 NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN 10 10 7 10 6 5 4 3 be documented2 and counted fully. 10 1 50 50 0 0 10 2016 2017 0 0 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 0 2016 2017 0 2016 2017 TOTAL CHILDREN % UNDER2016 15 2017 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 TOTAL CHILDREN % GIRLS

2016 2017 2016 2017

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 73 NDC-Rénové

FRPI

Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Rayia Mutomboki

Kamuina Nsapu

Nyatura

FDLR FOCA PART II: Nyatura

Life for Children Inside Nyatura

Initiation Rites & Daily Life Semi-combatant roles that verged on participation in fighting Similar to FDLR FOCA and in contrast to armed groups elsewhere were common in Nyatura. This might mean topping up in the DRC, particularly Mayi Mayi Mazembe and Kamuina Nsapu, ammunition supplies during clashes with Mayi Mayi groups or Nyatura did not typically initiate children beyond a first beating pillaging while armed with machetes and accompanied by a 237 and military training, which included three hours of exercises in combatant. Such in-between roles normally placed a child the early morning.231 In the experience of one 15-year-old boy, at risk on or near the battlefield. However, the luckier ones he and his fellow fresh recruits were first beaten, then taken to were protected by commanders with whom they had “special” his commander’s position in Rupango, Masisi Territory, where relationships. One 17-year-old boy serving as a fétisheur, one of he was locked in a cell for four days before being released for his commander’s favorites, said his commander protected him 238 military training.232 One week to one month of weapons and from spending all of his time on the frontlines. combat training for up to 100 new recruits – both adults and children – at a time was standard practice, including for girls, Role: Support regardless of their function. Two in three children recruited by Nyatura spent their months and years in the group behind the frontlines, in the groups’ Daily life was bleak: Children recalled eating leaves and sleeping camps or in villages under their control. These porters, domestics uncovered in the open bush in the rain;233 receiving frequent for commanders and their wives, food suppliers, spies, escorts, beatings;234 and occasionally drinking alcohol and smoking tax collectors, cooks and others kept the group functioning.239 marijuana to cope.235 In more organized Nyatura factions, children were also used in the bureaucracy of the armed group, with one 16-year-old boy Role: Combatant used as secretary of Nyatura’s Fourth Battalion Headquarters, Twenty-one percent of children in Nyatura – all boys – fought where he was given the task of registering new recruits and 240 against Rayia Mutomboki, NDC-Cheka, FDLR, Shetani, as well as recording their deployment to their respective companies. the FARDC. Children’s weapons – knives, spears, AK47s – tended Educated children were viewed as particularly valuable assets to be lighter than those used by other armed groups, perhaps that factions deployed to support illiterate commanders, e.g. a reflection of the state of Nyatura’s coffers and alliances, or the 13-year-old boy used as a secretary because his commander 241 an indication of children’s lower rank in the hierarchy. While had never attended school and did not know how to write. boys reported that “girl soldiers” fought for Nyatura, no girls interviewed disclosed combatant status. Physical risks aside, Finally, children described in detail taking part in Nyatura’s the emotional impact of being used as a combatant by Nyatura, criminal apparatus, whether levying a “sleep well” tax from 242 like other armed groups, could be long lasting. One 13-year-old villagers to finance weapons purchases, kidnapping civilians 243 244 boy described his time fighting in Nyatura as “the most difficult and collecting the ransom, or re-selling looted items. time of my life,” one that gave him nightmares lasting well after his escape.236

CHILDREN’S ROLES IN NYATURA FROM 2014-2017 CHILDREN’S ROLES IN NYATURA OVER TIME

250 250 Support

Combatants 200 250 200 250 Support

Combatants 150 200 150 200 21% OF CHILDREN USED IN 100150 100 150 COMBATANT ROLES BY NYATURA 21% 50 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50 OF CHILDREN USED IN 100 100 COMBATANT ROLES BY NYATURA 50 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50 0 2014 2015 2016 2017

NYATURA CHILD AVERAGE % OF CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD SUPPORT ROLES COMBATANTS 2014 2015 2016 2017 FROM ALL TOP 7 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 NYATURA CHILD PERPETRATORS SUPPORT ROLES NYATURA CHILD AVERAGE % OF COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD SUPPORT ROLES FROM ALL TOP 7 2014 2015 2016 2017 PERPETRATORS TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED NYATURA CHILD BY NYATURA SUPPORT ROLES TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL 1500 TREND OF CHILD RECRUITMENT BY NYATURA TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY NYATURA P. 74 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATICTOTAL CHILDREN REPUBLIC RECRUITEDTOTAL OF THE CONGO, 2014 –ALL 2017 CHILDREN RECRUITED 1200 IN THE DRC 1500 TREND OF CHILD RECRUITMENT BY NYATURA

ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED 900 1200 IN THE DRC 73% 600 900 OF GIRLS SURVIVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN NYATURA73% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300 600 OF GIRLS SURVIVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE

NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300 IN NYATURA 2014 2015 2016 2017

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN NYATURA AGAINST GIRLS 2014 2015 2016 2017 FROM ALL TOP 7

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN NYATURA AGAINST GIRLS FROM ALL TOP 7 FENSE C DE HNI ET ECTION 5% E/ ROT G -P ENSE OF CHILDREN EN LF O DMEIFC V SE CNOINC E TEH N SURVIVE SEXUAL R 3% 9/%E UTERCETIO 5% % 2 2E ERSOS VIOLENCE IN 7 NG PR-P OF CHILDREN E ERLF NOMIC NYATURA V E SE CO SURVIVE SEXUAL E /P E R LY3% 9% URE % I 2 2 ESS VIOLENCE IN 7 M PR A ER NYATURA F PE % Y/ 8 IL SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 3 M BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN NYATURA A F % 8 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 3 BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN NYATURA

NDC-Rénové

FRPI NDC-Rénové Mayi Mayi Mazembe FRPI Rayia Mutomboki Mayi Mayi Mazembe Kamuina Nsapu Rayia Mutomboki Nyatura Kamuina Nsapu FDLR FOCA Nyatura

FDLR FOCA PART II: Nyatura

Violations Triggered by Child Recruitment: The Risks Children Faced in Nyatura

Sexual Violence Killing & Maiming

While only 5% of children documented in Nyatura were girls, Children formerly associated with Nyatura reported killing 73% of them reported enduring sexual violence from their civilians and armed group combatants both on and off the commanders and peers. Multiple boys reported that girls in their battlefield, including children. One 12-year-old boy assisted units were sexually abused, served as “wives,” and that their in the assassination of a civilian after robbing him of all his babies were born in the camps. possessions.248 Another boy, age 16, accidentally shot dead another child soldier, age 15, a few days after his recruitment It was not uncommon practice for children in Nyatura to be when, drinking at a local boite, his commander handed the boy forced to commit acts of sexual violence against other children, a weapon he was not trained to use.249 Children who survived a phenomenon described more often by children in Nyatura battles reported witnessing the deaths of other children. For than in other armed groups, with the exception of FRPI. Multiple instance, just one week after his recruitment, a 17-year-old boy children independently reported that the same commander watched five boys die fighting against NDC-Cheka in Pinga, ordered a 17-year-old boy to rape a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year- Walikale Territory, North Kivu.250 old boy to rape two girls in Katoyi, Masisi Territory, North Kivu.245 Nyatura’s wounded children were reportedly patched up and Other times, boys took girls as concubines themselves. A returned to camp. One 15-year-old boy, shot in the foot and 15-year-old girl spoke of serving as a boy’s concubine and hospitalized for six months in Kirumbu, was immediately brought enduring gang rape from other Nyatura combatants, resulting in back to his unit upon recovery, although not before his mother a baby boy who was one year old by the time she was captured was forced to pay the hospital bill.251 Maiming also resulted from and released by a rival Nyatura group.246 While the number of torture and severe punishment doled out by Nyatura, with one children born to girls in Nyatura was difficult to estimate, babies 16-year-old boy and his friend held in an underground prison were referenced frequently enough in children’s testimonies after being accused of selling the group’s arms.252 to confirm that they were a common sight in Nyatura camps. However, unlike FDLR FOCA, Nyatura did not appear to place value on children born into the group and reportedly induced abortions for some pregnant girls.

Girls, however, were not the only victims of sexual violence, with at least 10 boys (5% of all boys recruited by the group) disclosing that they had been raped while associated with the group.247 When used by Nyatura elements against boys, sexual violence was said to be related to punishment and used as an intimidation tactic.

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 75 67% 8% 9% 13%

Released

Arrested

Escaped

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED CHILDREN ABDUCTED 300 TOTAL NUMBER OF TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED CHILDREN RECRUITED 250 TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED 300 200 TREND LINE 250 150 200 100 150

2% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50 RELEASED 100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

2014 2015 2016 2017 20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017 2014 2015 2016 2017 3% OTHER

Other

Released

Arrested

Escaped

600 TOTAL CHILDREN 500 ESCAPED SEPARATED PART II: Nyatura TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 500 RECRUITED 400 ARRESTED 400 Other

Released 300 300 Arrested Escaped AFTER: 200 200 100 Other NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100 HOW CHILDREN WERE SEPARATEDSurrendered 2014 2015 2016 2017 FROM NYATURA Released % 2014 2015 2016 2017 0.40 0.35 0.30 Arrested 0.25 0.20 0.15 Escaped 0.10 0.05 AVERAGE 0.00 AMONG TOP 7 NYATURA 2014 PERPETRATORS2015 2016 2017 2% ESCAPED UNKNOWN 2% ARRESTED SURRENDERED RELEASED 600 SURRENDERED 2% 500 RELEASED ER TH UNDETERMINED O 22% % 3

OF CHILDREN IN 400 D E R 4% E NYATURA ARRESTED D N E 300 KAMUINA R HOW R NSAPU U

% 7

3 %

200

E CHILDREN

D E

90% E

D S 100

ESCAPED A LEFT E

NUMBER OF CHILDREN

NYATURA

S 2014 2015 2016 2017

AVERAGE OF R

ALL PERPETRATORS

SOUGHT MONUSCO BASE

OTHER

18% OF CHILDREN IN NYATURA ESCAPED TO MONSUCO BASES NYATURA AVERAGE OF TOPHOW 7 PERPETRATORS CHILDREN LEFT NYATURA OVER TIME

300 300

Surrendered

250 250 Released AVERAGE ACROSS TOP 7 Arrested ESCAPED ARRESTED RELEASED SURRENDERED/DEMOBILIZED % SOUGHT MONUSCO BASE OTHER 67% 8% 9% 20013% 200 10% 3% Escaped

150 150

100 100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

50 50

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014ESCAPED 2015ARRESTED 2016RELEASED SURRENDERED2017

P. 76 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 67% 8% 9% 13%

Released

Arrested

Escaped

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED CHILDREN ABDUCTED 300 TOTAL NUMBER OF TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED CHILDREN RECRUITED 250 TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED 300 200 TREND LINE 250 150 200 100 150

2% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50 RELEASED 100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN PART II: Nyatura 2014 2015 2016 2017 20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017 2014 2015 2016 2017 3% OTHER

Other Escape Released Escape was the number one means that children separated from Nyatura: 90% of children documented Arrested left by escaping, with just a fraction arrested or released. Escaped

Why Children Escaped from Nyatura To Where 600 TOTAL CHILDREN 500 ESCAPED SEPARATED The two most frequently cited motives for children’s escape from A significant proportion – 18% - of children in Nyatura sought TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 500 RECRUITED Nyatura were harsh living conditions, including commanders’ safe haven at MONUSCO bases, especially in Rutshuru and 400 ARRESTED physical abuse, and “disgust” with the reality of life in the bush, Masisi. Some children 400did not learn about MONUSCO until Other which proved false the promises of salaries and other benefits.253 after they escaped and arrived home, only then approaching Released 300 300 Arrested The risks of escape were so great that each child who attempted nearby bases on their family, community leader or local NGO’s Escaped 261 200 to flee had to calculate200 that the pain of remaining was greater suggestion. Others identified MONUSCO bases as sites than the pain of capture. Some were determined and risked of protection while still100 in the group and went to far greater Other multiple attempts, likeNUMBER OF CHILDREN the 13-year-old boy who tried to escape lengths to reach them. This was especially the case when 100 Surrendered on several occasions but he was captured every time until he the child had ambitions to return2014 to school and2015 realized that2016 2017 finally succeeded.254 Not all children make the same judgment MONUSCO could facilitate their attestation de sortie.262 One Released call: One 14-year-old boy escaped2014 when he and 2015a friend were 2016 17-year-old 2017boy was re-recruited and escaped the same night sent on a looting raid; his friend was afraid of being punished from a Nyatura camp in northern Masisi Territory, North Kivu, Arrested 255 and refused to come with him, instead returning to Nyatura. walking hundreds of kilometers to a MONUSCO base in Minova, Escaped South Kivu.263 Notably, only one girl escaped to a MONUSCO AVERAGE base, suggesting that it was boys who are most aware of and AMONG TOP 7 NYATURA How Children Escaped from Nyatura PERPETRATORS comfortable approaching MONUSCO.2% ESCAPED Children usually escaped alone or in small groups, with the rare UNKNOWN ARRESTED help of others, such as the escort of the child’s commander.256 2% During their escapes,SURRENDERED children sought out other children formerly RELEASED In one noteworthy case, a 17-year-old girl, used as a sex slave, associated with Nyatura to ask for help. During his escape, a SURRENDERED escaped after her parents advocated with her commander 2% 16-year-old boy cameRELEASED across friends – formerER child soldiers in TH UNDETERMINED O 22% % 3 to allow the girl to travel to Mweso to take the annual State

Nyatura – who gave him directions to the same Transitional OF CHILDREN IN D E R Exam. Her commander conceded – an indication of the group’s 4% E 264 NYATURA ARRESTED D Care Center in Masisi that had welcomedN them. For children E R HOW R flexibility – and assigned a loyal combatant to accompany the U S

escaping in Masisi, children and community members were 6 % 7

3 %

E CHILDREN

girl to ensure she did not escape. However, the girl managed to C

relatively more informed of their options than children escaping

D E

90% E

257 S

ESCAPED A LEFT evade her minder. E

in other Territories or Provinces, andL specifically sought out E

NYATURA

CARITAS in Masisi Centre (the only Transitional NYATURA Care Center in

AVERAGE OF 265 R

Like all escapees, children in Nyatura picked their moments A

the area) as well as the ICRC.

ALL PERPETRATORS

carefully to increase their chances of success. This meant more escapes just prior to or during FARDC operations,258 clashes with other armed groups (e.g. FDLR FOCA), rotation of Nyatura units,259 sent to loot villages, the market or the river, and just after the death or arrest of the child’s commander or 18% 260 “husband.” OF CHILDREN IN NYATURA ESCAPED TO MONSUCO BASES NYATURA AVERAGE OF TOP 7 PERPETRATORS

AVERAGE ACROSS TOP 7 ESCAPED ARRESTED RELEASED SURRENDERED/DEMOBILIZED % SOUGHT MONUSCO BASE OTHER 67% 8% 9% 13% 10% 3%

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 77 PART II: Nyatura

Arrest

A fraction of children associated with Nyatura – 4% - were arrested by State authorities.

Most frequently, children were arrested after initially escaping Often arrests were linked with other patterns in Nyatura’s use and while en route to a MONUSCO base or their village.266 The of children, including abduction and re-recruitment. In one such small number of children, usually boys, arrested by FARDC case, a 16-year-old boy was arrested, beaten, interrogated and does not diminish the deep fear felt by children who escaped detained, the same day that he was abducted and re-recruited Nyatura: One 15-year-old boy escaped but stayed far away from by Nyatura, after previously escaping the group.268 his family for two more years due to his fear of detention.267

Release

Nyatura commanders released just 2% of all the children they recruited, primarily in 2015. In these rare cases, the same four reasons deemed acceptable by FDLR FOCA justified release by Nyatura: defeat by FARDC, mourning, medical care, and family advocacy or bribes.269

The death of a family member earned some children the Families appeared to see room for negotiation with Nyatura privilege of release, as was the experience of a 16-year-old girl commanders and male family members – fathers, uncles – or whose commander released her when he heard of her father’s parents approached commanders multiple times to secure the death.270 Illness could earn lucky children unconditional release, release of their children.273 Bribes paid by families to release such as the 14-year-old boy who became seriously ill one month children cost as little as 10 or 30USD, while others cost as much after his re-recruitment and “imprisonment.”271 More commonly, as 100USD.274 Nyatura commanders would authorize children to leave their camp for medical care on the strict condition of their return. Bribery was, however, not a magic pill guaranteed to return For example, [General] Domi instructed a 16-year-old boy’s a child to his or her family. If the full sum was not paid, the commander to bring the boy, sick with malaria, to his parents’ child was not released. This was the case for a 13-year-old girl, home for treatment, but with a mission order that made clear used as a sex slave, whose relatively low-ranking commander, that, after treatment, the boy must return to Nyatura.272 a captain, demanded the impossible sum of 350 USD for her release. The girl’s family was very poor and could only offer 50 More frequently than with FDLR FOCA, determined family USD, an offer rejected by the commander. Ultimately, months advocacy and bribes bought children freedom from Nyatura. later, the girl became sick and was abandoned at a hospital.275

Surrender

In 2014, just 10 responded to the Government’s demobilization campaign and surrendered with their commanders.276 More frequently, however, it was the commanders who surrendered after abandoning the children in their units. Left behind, these children then approached MONUSCO for protection.277

P. 78 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Nyatura

Endnotes

191 189768, 123197, 205206, 218651 224 123180, see also 187776, 145512 255 133383

192 198276, see also 198307, 159344 225 121169, see also 187772, 204355. An attestation de 256 220342 sortie is the official document issued to children who 193 205198 were associated with armed groups and have since gone 257 207483 through the child DDR process. It provides children with 194 258 202502, 189830 legal protection from arrest by authorities. 109592, 202513

195 259 24648 226 131215, see also 131228 123194

196 260 135777, see also 197178 227 131229, see also 203809, 118821 165449

197 261 220318, 238434, 192200 228 187410 119821, 24625

198 262 186796 229 73779, see also 196033 146187

199 263 211401 230 118764, 118671 204442

200 264 180248, see also 219903, 219946 231 237408 180797

201 265 180259 232 158994 159344, 159404

202 266 179710, see also recruitment on pain of death in 233 133382, 255911 223127 225908 267 234 146184 165449 203 190270 268 235 256978 186200 204 220297, see also 118821 269 236 238469 189675 205 244578 270 237 133382 220420, see also 236681 206 162584 271 238 248648 145637 207 122596 272 239 121870 256337, see also 256325 208 238255 273 240 163435 189602 209 180796, 185799, 185810, 185814, 260556, 202632 274 241 220331 189662, 189677, 207236, 220396 210 185816, 185817, 185818, 185819 275 242 163435 220351, see also 248663 211 169632 276 243 133385 156450, 133385 212 237061 277 244 197256 133385 213 255959 245 145536 and 145661 214 189754 246 204408 215 236805 247 180789, 180797, 180803, 180804, 180875, 180878, 216 165284 75090, 759091, 75092, 75093

217 158995, see also 207232 248 260458

218 122655 249 256800

219 133383, see also 133382 250 110135, see also 204355

220 254404 251 255959

221 236546 252 131218

222 248275 253 121169, 146184,180880, 163435

223 135409 254 180243

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 79 IN-DEPTH PROFILE: KAMUINA NSAPU

Belo ! ! Misumba Kabamba ! Kalema ! SANKURU Mushenge ! Tshibala Domiongo Lonkala ! ! Bulape ! ! Bena Tshadi Bongo Mwetshi ! ! ! Bulongo ! Kinda ! ! Mweka Bakwa Kenge ( ! Lusambo Bongamba Malonga .! ! ! ! Mikope Mashala ! !

KASAI Tshiniama ! Bisesu Kankunku ! Bakwa Ndai ! Tshiniama Pania-Mutombo Kampungu ! ! ! ! Dikanda !

Luebo ( Mutombo-Dibwe Mutombo ! Fwamba ! Musese ! ! Demba KASAI CENTRAL ( Dimbelenge Kapambwe ( Tshiniama ! Tshianza ! Makumbi ! ! Kakungula Tshiniama !Bakambe ! ! Sapo-Sapo ! Kabamba! Molowaie Katombe ! Tshalupembe ! Makumbi ! ! Luituila Kananga Bombo Kasanji ! ! .! Tshibwaya Matamba Tshikaji KASAI ORIENTAL ! ! ! Tshimbao ! Kabeya Bumba ! Tshiniama ( ! Mukanga ! Bulungu Tshibambula Kamwandu Kamwanga ! ! !

Bumba Mutombo ! Mbuji-Mayi Tshingambo ! ! Tshikula ! .! Mutombo Kabwe Miabi ( Tshikulela ! ! ( Kateya ! Tshilenge ! Lupatapata ( ! Mutena Bukonde Bibanga ! ! Fwamba Miabi Tshaba Tshisuku ! ! ! ( ! Kafuba Tshitadi ! ! Katanda Tshikapa Mukongo ! Mukanga ( ! . ! Kazumba Tshimbulu ! Bumba ! Dibaya Ndekesha ! Mai-Munene ( ! Kasanza Mukunga !Tshinema Lubondaie ! ! Tshisuku ! ! ! Tshilolo Kakona ! Matari Kamiji ! ! ( Kamponde Tshitupa ! Bumba ! Ngandajika Tshitadi ! ( Mutena ! ! ! Tshitadi Tuzule Tshiniama ! ! Mazia-Mpata Pemba-Zeo Lubudi Mboi ! ! ! ! Nguema Lubi Kamonia ! ! Kambaye ( Bumba ! Tshibala ! Kanda Kanda ! ! Luku ! Kabwanga Mwene-Ditu ! (

Kombo ! Luiza ! Longoie ! Luputa Muadiala ( Kaseka ! ! Milonga ! Kabwe Katanda ! Bumba ! Mwene-Yao ! LOMAMI Malambu UNITED NATIONS ! ANGOLA Musenge Katenge ! Child Recruitment ! Tshikanda ! Lubunza by Kamuina Nsapu ! from 2014 to 2017 Bangu Country Capital Major Road ! ! Mata Ngoma Province Capital International Boundary ! ! .! Tshikeza Kabinga ! Territory Capital Province Boundary ! ( Mutombo-Mukulu ! ! Relevant Sites Territory Boundary HAUT-LOMAMI Source: MONUSCO Child Protection, June 2018 LUALABA ! Disclaimer: This product is conﬁdential and exclusive property of United Nations MONUSCO. It should neither be disseminated Musala nor sold outside MONUSCO. This product is designed for MONUSCO Tshie operational requirements. The boundaries and names shown ! and the designations used on this map do not imply o cial endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Tshitazu ! Number of Children Recruited: < 50 50-100

100-200

200-300 300-400 400-500

500-750

750-1000 0 25 50 100 1000-2000 Kilometers

P. 80 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 TERRITORY MOTIVE Kasai Central (Dibaya, Dimbelenge, Opposition to the Government; Development in the Kasai Region; Kananga), Kasai (Kamonia, Mwenga, Luba/Lulua Self-Defense & Reassertion of Customary Power Tshikapa), Kasai Oriental, Lomami ETHNICITY Luba / Lulua CHILDREN RECRUITED Total: 634 PRIMARY MEANS OF RECRUITMENT Trend: Increase (Peak 2017) Forced (69%); Voluntary (25%) Girls: 21% / Boys: 79% PRIMARY PUSH FACTORS AMONG VOLUNTEERS Abducted: 5% Family & Peer Pressure (37%); Self-Protection & Magic (29%); Sexual Violence among Girls: 8% Ethnic Self-Defense (24%); Political (22%); Economic (20%) Under 15: 60% Combatants: 88% PRIMARY MEANS OF SEPARATION Re-Recruited: 0% Surrender following MONUSCO awareness-raising (28%); AverageEscape (26%); Arrest/Capture (20%)

TRENDS IN CHILD RECRUITMENT BY KAMUINA NSAPU Girls Under 15 Combatants Abductions 400 400 TOTAL CHILDREN

UNDER 15 350 350 ABDUCTIONS

300 300 COMBATANTS

GIRLS 250 250

200 200

150

150 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

100 100

50 50

20162016 20172017 0 In August 2016, the Chief Kamuina Nsapu was killed by is allegedly supported by members of the Government BLUE, SEA GREEN, SLATEthe GRAY, FARDC, BURNT bringing together a coalition of his followers and businessmen. At the close of 2017, while the scale of ORANGE AND DEEP PURPLE in a loosely organized and ethnically based militia recruitment and other violations committed by Kamuina composed of Luba and Lulua tribes. The chief’s death Nsapu diminished, the violence between Lulua/Luba GIRLS UNDER 15 sparked a complex crisisTOTAL in which CHILDREN longstanding political and Tchokwe/Pende bore signs of ethnic cleansing and opposition to the Government, lack of development,RE-RECRUITED recruitmentABDUCTIONS by Kamuina Nsapu reemerged in pockets. ethnic violence, and struggles over land and minerals COMBATANTS COMBATANTS came to a head. This set in motion an unexpected flare Described by one 11-year-old by as a “magical-religious” in violence in the previously calm Kasai Central Province, movement,278 Kamuina Nsapu became an appellation which quickly spread to neighboring Kasai Province, referring to a multiplicity of groups with no central with Kasai TOTALOriental, CHILDREN Lomami and Sankuru Provinces GIRLScommand. WhileUNDER members 15 of the KamuinaCOMBATANTS Nsapu family

also affected. In late 2016 and early 2017, the Kamuina RE-RECRUITEDcan be influentialABDUCTIONS with a faction of the group, other Nsapu militia fought the FARDC, with massive human factions entirely escape their control. The militia, which rights violations on both sides, resulting in at least 88 has a stronghold in Kasai Central but is active in all mass graves identified by the United Nations. In late 2017, provinces of the Kasais, is loosely organized, amorphous, clashes increased with a counter militia, the Bana Mura, and lacks a clear command and control structure. which is composed of Tchokwe and Pende tribes, and

VOLUNTARY “OUR300 STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 81 FORCED 250 UNKNOWN

200 VOLUNTARY FORCED UNKOWN

150

100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017 PART II: Kamuina Nsapu

I. BEFORE: HOW & WHY CHILDREN WERE RECRUITED BY KAMUINA NSAPU 120120 DEATH OF CHIEF KAMUINA NSAPU Abducted Compared100 to100 its counterparts in Eastern DRC, the trademarks of voluntary child recruitment

by Kamuina 80Nsapu bore starkly different signatures.

60 While the popular stereotype was that most children innocent”: Firstly, to avenge the death of these children 40 volunteered to join40 the militia, in fact at least 29% were and secondly, parroting the words of a well-known

NUMBER OF CHILDREN 279 forcibly recruited,20 including through death threats. For the recruiter, to “fight the power of [the Governor].” This rest, rarely was it one single factor that propelled a child was a common story among children volunteering to join 0to volunteer for the militia. In a telling case, a 12-year-old the militia, pointing to similar lines of argument used by MAY MAY JULY JULY JUNE JUNE APRIL 120 APRIL

boy was baptized with his parents’ blessing120 and said he certain recruiters. MARCH AUGUST DEATH OF CHIEF AUGUST JANUARY OCTOBER APRILMAYJUNEJULYAUGUSTSEPTEMBEROCTOBERNOVEMBERDECEMBERJANUARYFEBRUARYMARCHAPRILMAYJUNEJULYAUGUSTSEPTEMBEROCTOBERNOVEMBERDECEMBEROCTOBER Abducted FEBRUARY DECEMBER KAMUINA NSAPU DECEMBER NOVEMBER NOVEMBER SEPTEMBER was motivated by two reasons to fight the “FARDC who SEPTEMBER 100100 kill children our age like animals even though2016 they are 2017 CHILDREN80 RECRUITED BY KAMUINA NSAPU N OF ETHNIC LO TATIO YALT PEC ERS & Y 60 EX S FIGHT THE BE LES LIEF EAR SAPU’S RECR TH F INA N UITER AT MU S CH 40 KA H RANKS IL LENIS D REP RE NUMBER OF CHILDREN MIC N CONO 20 S % E W 20 20 IE R ITICAL L POL D O 2% S 2 FENSE T TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDT TOTAL -DE R 0 ELF O 15001500 C C S MAGIC N MAY I MAY JULY & JULY JUNE N G JUNE APRIL N APRIL H IO T T MARCH M AUGUST A E C SSURE AUGUST JANUARY OCTOBER APRILMAYJUNE JULYAUGUSTSEPTEMBERTE OCTOBERRENOVEMBERDECEMBERJANUARYFEBRUARYMARCHAPRILMAYJUNEJULYAAUGUSTSEPTEMBEROCTOBERNOVEMBERDECEMBEROCTOBER FEBRUARY DECEMBER P DECEMBER NOVEMBER % G NOVEMBER SEPTEMBER F O R SEPTEMBER 12001200 4 R E I 2 P E C F- /P L LY A L E I 2016 2017L S M L A P 900900 % F CHILDREN RECRUITED O 9 % BY KAMUINA NSAPU W 2 7 U 3 E R P S 600600

NUMBER OF CHILDREN S 300300 R

O TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED TOTAL

2014 15001500 2015 2016 2017 T TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED

BY KAMUINAC NSAPU IN THE DRC

0 12001200

2014 A 2015 2016 2017

900900

600600 S U NUMBER OF CHILDREN P 300300

AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 KAMUINA PERPETRATORS2014 NSAPU 2015 645 2016 2017 VOLUNTARY 25% TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED = 645 ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED VOLUNTARY BY KAMUINA NSAPU IN THE DRC 0 FORCED 2014 2015 2016 2017 UNKNOWN 156 / 645

TARY LUN VO 3% = 0.2418604651162791 2

47%

UNKNOWN

HOW 182 / 645

KAMUINA NSAPU = 0.2821705426356589

O R

RECRUITED C E

D AVERAGE 307 / 645

KAMUINA N AMONG TOP 7

W NSAPU

O PERPETRATORS

N CHILDREN 645

N = 0.475968992248062

8 VOLUNTARY

= 645

25%

VOLUNTARY

29% FORCED FORCED UNKNOWN 156 / 645

TARY LUN VO 3% = 0.2418604651162791 2

47%

UNKNOWN

KamuinaHOW Nsapu 182 / 645

KAMUINA NSAPU = 0.2821705426356589

P. 82 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPSF IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 O R

RECRUITED C

307 / 645

N CHILDREN

N = 0.475968992248062

29% FORCED PART II: Kamuina Nsapu

Push Factors: Why Children “Volunteered” for Kamuina Nsapu

Family Facilitation & Peer Pressure Survival Strategy: Physical Protection

The number one reason that children joined Kamuina Nsapu A lesser known but commonplace reason children joined Kamuina was family and peer pressure, with 37% of Kamuina Nsapu child Nsapu was the forced recruitment of entire communities on pain volunteers citing this reason for their decision. Some families of death. At least 29% of so-called volunteers did so to survive. not only condoned their recruitment, but also actively facilitated Children, parents and whole villages who refused to give children it by sending their children to tshiotas and paying for their to the militia were decapitated. This pattern can be traced to a baptism, for example the 15-year-old boy whose father gave him particular recruiter named Trésor, who used this deadly tactic 5,000FC and sent him to be “baptized.”280 This appeared to be in Luiza and Dibaya Territories, Kasai Central Province and driven by parents’ membership in or support for the Kamuina Kamonia Territory, Kasai Province to recruit at least 13 children Nsapu’s cause, or, as the violence wore on, a belief in the power between March-July 2017.284 Trésor and his accomplices’ threats of baptism to protect children from the violence in their milieu. were not empty: One 13-year-old boy watched Trésor decapitate Children frequently joined in groups of siblings, extended and carry around the head of the Chief Mbangu, which he families or friends, egging each other on and walking or hitching said “created great fear in the other chiefs so they [the other rides to tshiotas together.281 For example, one 14-year-old boy chiefs] could not resist our recruitment.”285 Another 10-year- joined and was placed in a unit with “all his cousins,”282 while old recruited near Luiza in March 2017 reported that Trésor ran another three brothers, ages 8, 10 and 15, were recruited by their three houses in his village: The House of Freedom, the House father, a Kamuina Nsapu element who was ultimately killed by of Provisional Freedom and the House of Decapitation.286 This FARDC.283 tactic led entire communities to enroll en masse, e.g. a family forcibly baptized together, including a 3-year-old boy.287

Children also volunteered to prove they were not “traitors,” thus saving their lives. One 17-year-old boy, an only child, cried as he recounted how his uncle persuaded him to join Kamuina Nsapu to prove the boy’s loyalty and save his own life, after Kamuina Nsapu assassinated his parents on suspicion of being spies.288

Particularly in mid-2017, the magical protective powers of baptism became magnets for children and families who did not necessarily want to join the militia, but wanted protection from the violence surrounding them. In the words of one 14-year-old boy, he was baptized “just for my protection and not to fight because I was afraid of being killed by FARDC, who kill many people, especially young people.”289 Other children were drawn by the belief that baptism could make them superhuman, with children reportedly struggling to grasp how friends or siblings who had been baptized could die at all.

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 83 PART II: Kamuina Nsapu

Revenge & Protect Family and the Luba/Lulua Community: Political Ideology297 “Save My People”290 In stark contrast to their counterparts in Eastern DRC, 22% of At least 38 children reported being recruited as early as May, children who volunteered to join Kamuina Nsapu cited political June and July 2016 in Nsapu village, Dibaya Territory, Kasai reasons for their decision, clearly believing in the nationalistic Central, suggesting that the Chief was preparing for hostilities. foundation of their fight and reiterating political slogans used by 291 However, it was his death that provided the impetus for a wave their communities and, occasionally, their individual recruiters. of children to join to avenge his death. This was particularly true In the words of one 17-year-old boy, he joined to “liberate his for boys from Nsapu village itself. Ultimately, one quarter of all country.”298 Recruiters promised children, including an 8-year- child volunteers were spurred on by the desire for revenge or old boy, that they would “occupy high ministerial posts once to protect Tshiluba-speakers. For example, one 12-year-old boy [we overthrew the] regime.”299 Others, like this 13-year-old boy, joined based on his recruiter’s call to avenge the Chief Kamuina joined because they “hoped for money and a good life when the Nsapu’s death and to end the “suffering of his village at hands of political regime changed.”300 FARDC.”292 This call to arms also hit closer to home, with children joining in an attempt to protect their own families or avenge the Multiple children parroted the language used by a particularly deaths of immediate family members, as demonstrated by the prolific recruiter named Alain Kabala, who implicated Rwanda boy who joined after FARDC killed his parents in Mua Dikasa, in his argument to recruit at least three boys: A 10-year-old boy Kasai Province.293 This soon extended to whole villages, as recruited by Kabala joined to “reverse the government” after for the 15-year-old boy who joined to chase away the alleged hearing alleged rumors of soldiers raping the wife of the Chief “Rwandan soldiers who are always attacking the population in Kamuina Nsapu.301 Multiple children formerly associated with Kananga at night.”294 As the violence took on more ethnic tones the militia referred to their opponents as “Rwandan soldiers,” in mid-2017, the reasons children gave for joining the militia rather than FARDC. widened from defending their families or villages to include defending the larger Luba and Lulua communities. In Kamonia, Survival Strategy: Economic Support & Power Kasai Province, children were recruited to fight not only FARDC but also Tshokwe and Pende communities, which fought under After March 2017, as family and ethnic loyalty diminished as a the Bana Mura moniker.295 driver of volunteerism, Kamuina Nsapu recruiters resorted to making financial promises to children. In an under-developed Vengeance could intermingle with complex political factors. For region, financial incentives cannot be underestimated and were example, one 15-year-old joined to avenge his father’s death, a factor that propelled 20% of all child volunteers to join. Poverty, which on the surface appears straightforward enough. However, lack of school fees and death of a parent made promises of “lots the boy’s father was in fact a Government intelligence agent of money” tempting for children struggling to survive on a day- 302 who was first abducted and brought to a tshiota by Kamuina to-day basis. Children were also motivated by the injustice Nsapu, before ultimately being assassinated by the FARDC.296 and inequality in their communities, with one 16-year-old girl joining to “develop her village, where the suffering [poverty] is terrible.303

P. 84 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Kamuina Nsapu

Pull Factors: Why Kamuina Nsapu Recruited Children

Expectation of Ethnic Loyalty Kamuina Nsapu’s Recruiters

While the vast majority of children were recruited after August Like children recruited elsewhere in DRC, children associated 2016, 38 children reported being recruited as early as May, June with Kamuina Nsapu identified their recruiters, commanders and July 2016 in Nsapu village, Dibaya Territory, Kasai Central, and fétisheurs by name. With such a high concentration of prior to the death of the Chief Kamuina Nsapu.304 In six cases, recruitment of so many children in such a short span of time, children reported being personally recruited by the Chief a web of recruiters emerged more clearly than in the East. Kamuina Nsapu himself.305 The expectation of ethnic loyalty Active recruitment campaigns were led by customary chiefs dominated the militia’s early child recruitment efforts. Initiation and designated recruiters, who spread the call to arms, “to save rites, which included only Luba and Lulua traditions, further [yourselves] from being killed by the FARDC when they attack reinforced the cultural basis for children’s loyalty to the group. your village,”306 and to “restore peace” to the Kasais.307 Just Ethnic reasons for recruiting children diminished somewhat nine men were responsible for recruiting at least 160 children in in mid-2017, but again became a dominant factor in late 2017, 2016 and 2017, with an additional 162 men and women serving as opposing ethnicities gathered their own militia, such as the as less prolific but still significant recruiters. Children, too, were Bana Mura, which was composed primarily of people from amongst the recruiters, as in the 17-year-old boy tasked with Tshokwe and Pende communities. visiting villages to “invite” other children to join.308

Fearless Fighters & the Belief that Children Wield Strong Replenish Ranks Magical Powers While rarely stated overtly, some children reportedly were More than any other armed group operating in the DRC, aware that their recruitment was timed with certain units’ need Kamuina Nsapu sought out children as combatants based on for more manpower. For example, two children recruited in their beliefs in children’s magical powers of protection. In a Kambanjila, Dibaya Territory, Kasai Central in November 2016 region where magic is real for both militia members and the knew they were recruited to reinforce the militia’s Ngombe FARDC, the belief that, by virtue of their virginity and baptism, Brigade, which had sustained heavy losses.309 children could be impermeable to bullets and would fearlessly approach FARDC armed with no more than sticks, made children the most valuable combatants. Indeed, the youngest children, especially girls, were explicitly sent to the frontlines to protect the next wave of combatants. Several sources also reported that drugs were used to augment children’s sense of invulnerability in battle.

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 85 AGE GENDER NATIONALITY IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF OF THE MILITIA’S EXISTENCE, KAMUINA NSAPU WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST CHILD RECRUITER IN THE DRC SINCE 2014 AND THE NUMBER ONE RECRUITER OF CHILDREN IN 2017: 370 CHILDREN (58 GIRLS, 312 BOYS) AND 264 CHILDREN (25 GIRLS, 239 BOYS) WERE RECRUITED BY THE MILITIA IN 2017 AND 2016, RESPECTIVELY.

RECRUITED THE MOST CHILDREN OF #1 ANY PERPETRATORS 60% 21% 2% RECRUIT IN 2017 WITH WERE UNDER WERE GIRLS ARE FOREIGN BORN ER IN CHILDREN 15 YEARS OLD 2017 RECRUITED WITH 370 CHILDRE N RECRUIT ED OF ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED IN THE DRC ARE RECRUITED BY KAMUINA NSAPU

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL 1500

1200

900

SCHOOLS 350 350 HOSPITALS 600 Hospitals

300 300 Schools

NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300 250 250

200 200 2014 2015 2016 2017 150 150 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED PART II: Kamuina Nsapu 0 BY KAMUINA NSAPU IN THE DRC 100 100 2014 2015 2016 2017 NUMBER OF ATTACKS 50 50

0 2016 2017 ABDUCTED OVER TIME BY YEAR

2016 2017

Trigger Violations: Abduction CHILD ABDUCTIONS BY KAMUINA NSAPU

While numerous children, particularly older boys, reported joining voluntarily, this was by no means universal. As revenge

and ethnicity diminished as recruitment drivers and losses in 80 80 400 400 Abducted Zero battle increased from 2016 to 2017, abduction became a means 70 350 350 70 Recruited

of boosting the militia’s ranks. In 2017, the UN documented 72 60 60 300 300 children, including 13 girls, abducted by Kamuina Nsapu, a sharp 50 50 250 250 increase from the six abductions documented in 2016. The vast 40 40 200 200 majority - 83% - of these abductions were for the purpose of 30 30 150 150 recruitment.310 One 16-year-old boy abducted in Sandiji, Luiza, 20 20 100 100 Kasai Central was clear that the reason for his abduction was NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN 10 10 50 50 to increase the militia’s ranks in May 2017 after heavy losses.311

0 2016 2017 0 2016 2017 Certain regions, such as Mambayi Sector, Luiza Territory or CHILDREN2016 ABDUCTED 2017 CHILDREN2016 RECRUITED 2017 Kazumba Territory,312 Kasai Central, were known for mass BY KAMUINA NSAPU BY KAMUINA NSAPU abductions targeting children. Children recounted stories of militia members, especiallyPLACES those of OF Kete ethnicity, entering PURPOSE OF villages specifically lookingVIOLENCE for children.313 PURPOSE OF CHILDABDUCTION ABDUCTION BY KAMUINA NSAPU

120120 8080 106 7070 100100 64 6060 8080 5050 6060 4040 3030 4040 20 NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 2020 17 10 10 10 7 8 10 3 3 2 1 1 0 KASAI NORD- SUD- HAUT- 0 TANGANYIKA KASAI ITURI CENTRAL KIVU KIVU UELE RECRUITMENT SEXUAL RECRUITMENT KILLING MAIMING VIOLENCE & SEXUAL KASAI CENTRALTANGANYIKANORD-KIVUKASAISUD-KIVUHAUT-UELEITURI RECRUITMENTSEXUALRECRUITMENT VIOLENCE &VIOLENCE SEXUALKILLING VIOLENCEMAIMING THE KASAIS THE EAST

P. 86 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Kamuina Nsapu

Attacks on Schools as a Means of Child Recruitment ATTACKS ON SCHOOLS & HOSPITALS BY KAMUINA NSAPU Kamuina Nsapu launched at least 382 attacks on schools, far outstripping the scale of such attacks previously documented SCHOOLS 350 350 314 HOSPITALS in the DRC. Despite this unprecedented figure of documented Hospitals attacks, the actual figures are likely far higher, with over 1,000 300 300 Schools

additional allegations received by the UN. 250 250

200 200 The attacks were intended to destroy places of learning, as 150 150 symbols of defiance to government authority. Whole structures 100 100

burnt to the ground, windows broken and facilities rendered NUMBER OF ATTACKS unusable, with many schools remaining closed long after the 50 50 original attack. In at least two cases, schools in Dibaya Territory, 0 2016 2017 Kasai Province were attacked multiple times, first in August 315 2016 and again in February 2017. 2016 2017

While shocking on its own merit, this unprecedented pattern was closely inter-related with child recruitment, as schools and their hundreds of students were targeted as recruitment and abduction sites. For example, the militia – including children themselves – entered at least three schools in Kazumba Territory, armed with knives and machetes, demanding that if “we can’t go to school, neither can you,” and saying that teachers should not return to teach.316 Five boys, ages 10 to 16, were abducted while hiding inside their classrooms at Tshikula Primary and Secondary Schools.317

PLACES OF PURPOSE OF VIOLENCE ABDUCTION

120120 8080 Re-Recruitment 106 7070 100100 64 In contrast to the revolving door of the East, Kamuina Nsapu did not display a pattern of re-recruitment. 6060 8080 5050 6060 4040 This was in part due to the short duration of the violence, which to provide intensive reintegration, economic and psychosocial 3030 could be measured in months, rather than years or decades as in support4040 to the hundreds, if not thousands of children, separated 20 NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 the East. This, however, could change if the insurgency continues from2020 Kamuina Nsapu is 17not met, children will be more vulnerable 10 10 10 7 8 10 3 3 and the militia initiates new rounds of recruitment. It was also to re-recruitment in the coming months and2 years.1 1 0 KASAI NORD- SUD- HAUT- 0 TANGANYIKA KASAI ITURI a function of the active role of MONUSCO demobilization CENTRAL KIVU KIVU UELE RECRUITMENT SEXUAL RECRUITMENT KILLING MAIMING VIOLENCE & SEXUAL campaigns, which led numerous local chiefs and their followers KASAI CENTRALTANGANYIKANORD-KIVUKASAISUD-KIVUHAUT-UELEITURI RECRUITMENTSEXUALRECRUITMENT VIOLENCE &VIOLENCE SEXUALKILLING VIOLENCEMAIMING THE KASAIS THE EAST to surrender en masse in mid-late 2017. However, if the need

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 87 PART II: Kamuina Nsapu

AGE GENDER NATIONALITY IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A II. DURING: HALF OF THE MILITIA’S EXISTENCE, KAMUINA AGE GENDER NATIONALITY NSAPUIN THE WAS FIRST THE YEAR THIRD AND A HIGHESTHALF CHILD OF THERECRUITER MILITIA’S IN THEEXISTENCE, DRC SINCE KAMUINA 2014 LIFE INSIDE KAMUINA NSAPU ANDNSAPU THE NUMBER WAS THE ONE THIRD RECRUITERHIGHEST OF CHILD CHILDREN RECRUITER IN 2017:IN 370THE CHILDREN DRC SINCE (58 2014 GIRLS,AND 312 BOYS)THE NUMBER AND 264 ONE CHILDRENRECRUITER (25 GIRLS, OF CHILDREN 239 BOYS)IN 2017: WERE 370 RECRUITED CHILDREN (58 BY THEGIRLS, MILITIA 312 BOYS)IN 2017 AND AND 264 2016,CHILDREN RESPECTIVELY. (25 GIRLS, 239 THE PROFILE OF A CHILD RECRUITED BY KAMUINA NSAPU BOYS) WERE RECRUITED BY THE MILITIA IN 2017 AND FROM 2014-2017 2016, RESPECTIVELY. RECRUITED THE MOST CHILDREN OF #1 ANY PERPETRATORS 60% 21% 2% RECRUIT IN 2017RECRUITED WITH THE WERE UNDER WERE GIRLS ARE FOREIGN BORN ER IN MOSTCHILDREN CHILDREN OF 15 YEARS60% OLD 21% 2% #1 ANYRECRUITED PERPETRATORS 2017RECRUIT IN 2017 WITH WERE UNDER WERE GIRLS ARE FOREIGN BORN WITHER IN CHILDREN 15 YEARS OLD 3702017 RECRUITED CHILDREWITH N 370 RECRUITCHILDRE EDN OF ALLRECRUIT CHILDREN RECRUITEDED IN THE DRC OFARE ALL RECRUITED CHILDREN BY KAMUINARECRUITED NSAPU IN THE DRC ARE RECRUITED BY KAMUINA NSAPU

CHILDREN RECRUITED BY KAMUINA NSAPU BY MONTH

120120 DEATH OF CHIEF KAMUINA NSAPU Abducted 100100 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL 1500 80 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL 1500 60 1200

40 9001200 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 600900

0 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300 600 MAY MAY JULY JULY JUNE JUNE APRIL APRIL MARCH AUGUST AUGUST JANUARY OCTOBER APRILMAYJUNEJULYAUGUSTSEPTEMBEROCTOBERNOVEMBERDECEMBERJANUARYFEBRUARYMARCHAPRILMAYJUNEJULYAUGUSTSEPTEMBEROCTOBERNOVEMBERDECEMBEROCTOBER NUMBER OF CHILDREN FEBRUARY DECEMBER DECEMBER NOVEMBER 300 NOVEMBER SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2014 2015 2016 2017 2016 2017 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED CHILDREN RECRUITED 0 BY KAMUINA2014 NSAPU 2015 IN THE2016 DRC 2017 BY KAMUINA NSAPU 2014 2015 2016 2017 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED 0 BY KAMUINA NSAPU IN THE DRC 2014 2015 2016 2017

ABDUCTED OVER TIME BY YEAR CHILDREN RECRUITED BY KAMUINA NSAPU BY YEAR

TOTAL ABDUCTEDCHILDREN RECRUITED OVERTOTAL TIME BY YEAR 15001500

12001200

900900 80 80 400 400 Abducted Zero 70 70 350 350 80 Recruited 600600 80 400 400 60 60 Abducted300 300 Zero 70 350 350

NUMBER OF CHILDREN 70 Recruited 50 50 250 250 60 300300 60 300 300 40 40 200 200 50 50 250 250 30 30 150 150 40 201440 2015 2016 200 200 2017 20 20 100 100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN 30 30 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED ALL CHILDREN 150RECRUITED150 10 10 BY KAMUINA NSAPU IN THE DRC 50 50 0 20 20 100 100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 2014 2015 2016 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 2017 0 10 10 2016 2017 0 50 50 2016 2017

0 CHILDREN20162016 ABDUCTED 20172017 0 CHILDREN20162016 RECRUITED 20172017 BY KAMUINA NSAPU BY KAMUINA NSAPU

CHILDREN2016 ABDUCTED 2017 CHILDREN2016 RECRUITED 2017 BY KAMUINA NSAPU BY KAMUINA NSAPU

P. 88 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 KAMUINA PERPETRATORS NSAPU 645 VOLUNTARY 25% = 645 VOLUNTARY FORCED

UNKNOWN 156 / 645

TARY LUN VO 3% = 0.2418604651162791 2

47%

UNKNOWN

HOW 182 / 645

KAMUINA NSAPU = 0.2821705426356589

O R

RECRUITED C

307 / 645

N CHILDREN

N = 0.475968992248062

29% FORCED PART II: Kamuina Nsapu

The Girls & Boys Recruited by Kamuina Nsapu

In the first year and a half of the militia’s existence, Kamuina Nsapu was the third highest child recruiter in the DRC since 2014 and the number one recruiter of children in 2017: 370 children (58 girls, 312 boys) and 264 children (25 girls, 239 boys) were recruited by the militia in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

These figures are likely the tip of the iceberg, as the UN received Daily Life & Initiation Rites324 thousands more allegations of child recruitment that it was not Entry into Kamuina Nsapu begins with spiritual ceremonies, or able to verify. For example, on mission to Masuika, Kalunga “baptisms,” in shrines called “tshiota,” at the heart of which is Sector, Luiza Territory, Kasai Central in August 2017, MONUSCO a sacred fireplace. Children were baptized along with dozens or was only able to verify a fraction (50) of the 657 allegations it hundreds of others – reportedly up to 190 children and 70 adults received (527 boys, 130 girls) due to the overwhelming volume – on the same day as their recruitment to become invulnerable of cases and limited resources. Moreover, children reported to bullets.325 In a reflection of the group’s diffuse structure and the presence of up to 60 other boys and girls in their units, recruitment patterns, local Kamuina Nsapu chiefs performed including networks of siblings and cousins.318 Clearly, the baptisms in their own tshiotas. Most children reported being number of children demobilized outstripped the UN’s capacity baptized in or nearby their villages or towns, although some to individually document them. travelled for their baptism and then returned to their villages to join their local Kamuina Nsapu unit.326 While beyond the reporting period, it is important to note that the high figures from 2016 and 2017 did not last into 2018, when Chiefs charged from 1,500CF to 8,000CF (1 to 5USD) per figures fell in a dramatic inverse of late 2016 and early 2017. While participant; a baptism of 300 people with an average of 5,000FC, the risk of resumption of conflict in the Kasais and therefore could earn the chief as much as 1,000USD. 327 Baptisms usually child recruitment remains, the pattern currently indicates that took place at night around a fire,328 with participants jumping it was an acute instance of unprecedented recruitment, rather over fire, swallowing three pieces of a local grain (“benga”), than a long-term trend. sometimes mixed into a ball of pounded yams (“fufu”), and one or two live red ants (“makenene”),329 drink alcohol fortified with Age roots and tree bark, and occasionally smoke marijuana to the 330 Kamuina Nsapu’s recruitment pattern bore stark differences point of losing consciousness. This “baptism” also involved from that of armed groups operating in the East. Most notably, immersing children in water and making deep incisions to 331 Kamuina Nsapu tended to recruit far younger children, children’s abdomens and shoulders. Those children who died baptizing some as young as age 3319 : 60% of all children of their wounds were deemed not to have protective powers recruited by Kamuina Nsapu were below age 15, although this while the survivors were believed to be “bulletproof,” and were figure dropped slightly from 2016 (66%) to 2017 (56%). Children given protective amulets, red headbands and armbands, and reported that recruiters specifically searched for the youngest spears or sticks called “musa wa lupatu.” These children were children, including children at schools.320 The youngest child then sent to the frontlines to fight the FARDC with knives, documented as a combatant was a 4-year-old boy sent to face machetes, spears, occasionally small arms, or simply magic. the FARDC with sticks;321 the youngest child documented as Children believed wholeheartedly in the power of the baptism, baptized was 1 year and two months old.322 adding to their initial fearlessness in battle: As one boy who initially did not want to fight said, “It is clear that this baptism can change a child’s spirit and push him to commit odious Gender crimes in battle with soldiers.”332 Kamuina Nsapu recruited girls at the relatively high rate of 21%, second only to FRPI nationally. The youngest virgin girls were believed to possess the strongest magical powers and were made to serve as “Ya Mamas” on the frontlines.323

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 89 PART II: Kamuina Nsapu

Role: Combatant Girls Who Catch Bullets

Children, including the youngest, made up a significant number Eighty-nine percent of girls recruited by Kamuina Nsapu were of the militia’s fighting force and participated in combat at a involved in armed clashes, in stark contrast to the armed groups rate rarely seen in the East, with 88% of children recruited by in the East, which – with the exception of ADF – infrequently Kamuina Nsapu used as combatants. Such a high rate of child used girls as combatants. A rarity in the DRC, one 17-year-old recruitment appears to have begun with the very beginning of girl served as a commander in battle, leading her unit of boys the violence (90% of children recruited in 2016 saw combat), and girls in clashes against the FARDC.343 Not only were girls indicating that it was a deliberate strategy, rather than an act used as combatants but they were also deemed to have special of desperation to fill ranks as the violence wore on. Children powers, derived from their virginity. The militia sent these wearing “protective” red armbands and headbands took part “Ya Mamas” to “receive bullets in their skirts” and collect the in up to 10 major battles, including the fight to take Kananga wounded on the frontline.344 One 16-year-old girl indicated airport, Mbuji Mayi, and other towns.333 that her “grand role” on the front was to “be like a bullet-proof shield” who could collect the wounded and “mysteriously” bring Armed with knives, machetes, occasionally 12 caliber rifles, and them to the tshiota for traditional medicine.345 Intentional use rarely grenades,334 the majority of children fought with sticks of children as human shields, while widely suspected, is difficult and “white arms” (knives or machetes), like the 7-year-old boy to prove on a large scale. However, at least three children, who declared that he was sent to fight the FARDC with a wooden including an 11-year-old girl, declared that they always served in stick.335 Magic weapons, which were genuinely believed in by the first line of combatants to protect the militants behind them children and FARDC alike, included herbs (“kashinda kabukulu”) from the FARDC.346 that gave the user telepathic powers to evoke the spirits of the dead to carry out attacks, sticks or knives believed to transform Beheading the Enemy into firearms, and eggs that had been “transformed into bombs” by the chief’s magical blessing.336 One 16-year-old boy believed More so than in the East, children in Kamuina Nsapu matter-of- that kashinda kabukulu gave him the power to “cut off people’s factly recounted fighting, but many spoke of fear of being killed 347 heads from a distance,” including two FARDC and one PNC.337 while fighting. Nevertheless, children as young as 10 claimed 348 Another 16-year-old boy fought with earth mixed with pieces to have killed multiple – up to 25 – FARDC and PNC elements. of wood while invoking the name of the Chief Kamuina Nsapu Given the dearth of guns and the availability of machetes in for strength.338 A third 16-year-old boy invoked his ancestors’ children’s hands, decapitation was the most common method of 349 spirits in the name of the Chief Kamuina Nsapu [to carry out killing FARDC soldiers, during or after a battle. Adversaries’ attacks] and other children used magic, in their own words, to heads appeared to play a role in the baptisms or to reinforce “protect the population without killing.”339 the power of a tshiota, with younger children given specific responsibilities within this system. An 11-year-old boy described In the face of heavy losses, child combatants’ faith in their his role to slit the throats of and decapitate incapacitated, protective powers required regular renewal and many children injured or captured FARDC soldiers, two boys, aged 9 and 14, received multiple baptisms to restore their invulnerability.340 brought the heads to the tshiota, and, finally, a 13-year-old boy 350 One 17-year-old boy claimed to have received 28 baptisms, for organized and displayed all of the heads in the tshiota. the price of 50FC each.341 However, in the words of one 17-year- old boy, “At the start we used arms that had magical powers but, after a while, they no longer had effect so we turned to guns.”342

CHILDREN’S ROLES IN KAMUINA NSAPU FROM 2016-2017 250 SUPPORT ROLES Support

Combatants 200 COMBATANTS

150

88% 100 OF CHILDREN USED IN COMBATANT ROLES BY KAMUINA NSAPU NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

KAMUINA NSAPU AVERAGE % OF CHILD CHILD COMBATANTS COMBATANTS FROM ALL TOP 7 PERPETRATORS 2014 2015 2016 2017 KAMUINA NSAPU CHILD SUPPORT ROLES

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY KAMUINA NSAPU TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL 300 TREND OF RECRUITMENT BY KAMUINA NSAPU P. 90 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN250 THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017

200 73% 150 OF GIRLS SURVIVE 100 SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN KAMUINA NSAPU NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50

2014 2015 2016 2017

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE 0 IN KAMUINA NSAPU AGAINST GIRLS 2014 2015 2016 2017 FROM ALL TOP 7

FENSE C DE HNI ET ECTION 5% E/ ROT NG F-P C OF CHILDREN E EL ONOMI EV S EC SURVIVE SEXUAL R 8% 0% URE % 1 4 ESS VIOLENCE IN 7 PR ER KAMUINA NSAPU PE Y/ IL M A F % 7 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 4 BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN KAMUINA NSAPU

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Mayi Mayi Mazembe " Rayia Mutomboki Kamuina Nsapu

Nyatura

FDLR FOCA PART II: Kamuina Nsapu

Role: Support boy with “arresting” [abducting] villagers at the request of his Even the 26% of children in Kamuina Nsapu who were not chief. Back at the tshiota, if the arrested were “found guilty” of 353 combatants were baptized and wore red bands for protection. transgressions, his chief would kill them on the spot. Children This is in contrast to armed groups in the East, like Mayi Mayi were especially valued as guards: A 9-year-old boy served as a Mazembe, which exclusively employed magic to protect bodyguard of the Chief Kamuina Nsapu prior to his death and 354 combatants. This could be due to the inherent risk of any was later charged with securing the “Royal Court,” and two association with Kamuina Nsapu. It may also be a result of boys, ages 14 and 16, guarded tshiotas while the others left for 355 children in the militia playing roles that walk the line between battle. combatant and support, such as a 17-year-old “war operator” who planned operations, thus putting him at high risk of being Other children played operational support roles more targeted.351 reminiscent of the ways armed groups in the East used children. These ranged from a 12-year-old boy in charge of logistics and 356 Kamuina Nsapu made use of children as loyal enforcers operations, spies informing militia commanders of FARDC 357 to police its own members: One 17-year-old girl served as movements, cooks, tax collectors, aides to fétisheurs and 358 both combatant at Nganza and military police, dolling out recruiters of other children. One 16-year-old boy told child punishments at Kananga stadium to “militiamen who did not protection staff that his only role was, in his words, to “lose abide by the rules.”352 The militia tasked another 16-year-old blood,” which may be a reference to the reported practice of drinking blood during baptisms.359

Violations Triggered by Child Recruitment: The Risks Children Faced in Kamuina Nsapu

Killing & Maiming in Tshimbulu, Kasai Central, FARDC soldiers reportedly threw With 88% of child recruits on the battlefield, killing and maiming grenades from short range at unarmed children associated with 361 was an inevitable risk for children in Kamuina Nsapu. The full Kamuina Nsapu. scale of children who died as a result of their association with the militia remains unknown, however, testimonies from Child survivors sustained injuries ranging from multiple bullets children, dozens more allegations received that have yet to be lodged in their abdomens and spinal columns, to fractured 362 verified, and the identification of 88 mass graves by UN at the bones and amputated legs. Children rattled off the names 363 close of 2017 all point to significant numbers of child casualties. and numbers of children they watched die on the battlefield, The protective powers that both children and their FARDC such as the 16-year-old boy who was the sole survivor of a 364 opponents believed to be real, as well as Kamuina Nsapu’s use of battle in Luebo, or the 10-year-old boy who killed five soldiers 365 children on the frontlines and chiefs’ abandonment of children after seeing FARDC kill his friends. Thirty individual children when the militia was overrun,360 led to close combat between reported witnessing an estimated 60 children killed in Moma young children, FARDC soldiers and PNC officers. The FARDC’s village, Luiza Territory, Kasai Central in May-June 2017. They use of force was often disproportionate relative to the threat were allegedly buried in a mass grave located two kilometers 366 the children posed. For example, during clashes on 10 April 2017 from the village.

FARDC KILLING & MAIMING OF CHILDREN BY PROVINCE IN 2017

120 120 106 100 100

80 80

60 60

40 40 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 20 17 8 10 10 2 1 0 KASAI TANGANYIKA NORD- KASAI SUD- HAUT- ITURI CENTRAL KIVU KIVU UELE KASAI CENTRAL TANGANYIKA NORD-KIVU KASAI SUD-KIVU HAUT-UELE ITURI THE KASAIS THE EAST

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 91 PART II: Kamuina Nsapu

The perpetrators were exclusively state agents: Three quarters Sexual Violence (116) of all children killed and maimed by the FARDC in 2017 Very few (11) children in Kamuina Nsapu – boys or girls – reported occurred in the Kasais, far higher than in the East, where 38 such sexual violence. Anecdotally, this may partly be due to the belief cases were attributed to the FARDC. that girls retained power through their virginity. Consistent with the deep belief in magic, rape was, however, linked to divination, However, of the 116 child casualties documented by the UN in e.g. a 15-year-old girl in Kamuina Nsapu raped as a “test to know the Kasais between 2016 and 2017, only 12% of children were how long a battle would last.”370 No girls reported being used as killed or maimed while fighting for Kamuina Nsapu. The majority “wives,” a common practice among armed groups in the East. - 57% - of children killed or maimed in the Kasais by FARDC However, one boy reported that militants paid their commander were directly targeted on suspicion of membership in Kamuina money to “obtain authorization to sleep with the young girls,” Nsapu. This was in part a function of the massive recruitment essentially pimping girl combatants out to his own soldiers.371 and use of children by the militia such that just being under 18 years old and of Luba or Lulua ethnicity put children at elevated I risk. In an indication of this generalized violence affecting all children in the Kasais, on 28 March 2017, in Nganza Commune, Kasai Central, 32 children (15 girls, 17 boys, aged from a few months old to 15 years) were among civilians killed by FARDC during cordon and search operations targeting alleged Kamuina Nsapu. Whole families – in one home, six children, four siblings and two cousins, and in nearby house four-year-old twin girls – were shot dead. That same night, 10 siblings died when a FARDC officer threw a grenade into their house.367

Killing and maiming of children associated with the militia had two opposing effects: Early on, it fueled the recruitment cycle of children motivated by revenge, for example the 9- and 12-year- old boys who volunteered to avenge the death of friends, with specific reference to the killing of young girls by FARDC.368 As fighting wore on, the death toll fueled surrenders, including several children who decided to leave the militia after the above mentioned killings in Nganza.369

CONTEXT OF KILLING AND MAIMING OF CHILDREN BY FARDC IN THE KASAIS FROM 2016-2017

15% 57% INDISCRIMINATE TARGETED FIRING CHILDREN

12% CLASHES WITH ARMED GROUPS

9% EXPLOSIVE PLANTED BY FARDCARMED GROUPS 5% CROSS-FIRE 2% OTHER

P. 92 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 67% 8% 9% 13% 67% 8% 9% 13%

Released Released Arrested Arrested Escaped Escaped

2% RELEASED 2% RELEASED 3% OTHER 3% OTHER

Other Other Released Released Arrested Arrested Escaped Escaped 600 TOTAL CHILDREN 500 ESCAPED SEPARATED TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 600 TOTAL CHILDREN 500500 RECRUITEDESCAPED SEPARATED 400 ARRESTED TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 500 RECRUITED 400 PART II: Kamuina Nsapu Other 400 ARRESTED Released 300 300 400 Other Arrested Released 300 SurrenderedOther Escaped 200 300 200 Arrested Escaped OtherSurrendered SurrenderedOther 100 200 II. AFTER:200 NUMBER OF CHILDREN OtherSurrendered 100 Released 100

NUMBER OF CHILDREN 2014 2015 2016 2017 100 Arrested Released HOW CHILDREN WERE SEPARATED2014 FROM2015 2016 2017 Arrested 2014 2015 2016 2017 Escaped

KAMUINA2014 NSAPU2015 2016 2017 Escaped

AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 KAMUINA PERPETRATORS NSAPU AVERAGE ESCAPED AMONG TOP 7 KAMUINA PERPETRATORS NSAPU 20% ARRESTED ESCAPED ESCAPED RELEASED 20% ARRESTED ESCAPED SURRENDERED RELEASED

UNDETERMINED SURRENDERED 22% R E H T O OF CHILDREN IN % 3 HOW UNDETERMINED

22% R E KAMUINA NSAPU H D T 6 E O 7 R OF CHILDREN IN % % ESCAPE TO E 3

D CHILDREN E HOW

S N C E KAMUINA NSAPU

A R D 6 P R E 7

U R

% D S ESCAPE TO E

D CHILDREN E

% LEFT S N

3 C

1 E

20%

ARRESTED

% LEFT

E KAMUINA

20% E

19%

KAMUINA NSAPU ARRESTED

UNDETERMINED

D %

NSAPU E KAMUINA

AVERAGE OF

19% L

E E

KAMUINAR NSAPU

ALL PERPETRATORS R

UNDETERMINED

NSAPU

AVERAGE OF

ALL PERPETRATORS R

28% RELEASED SURRENDERED 7% 28% RELEASED SURRENDERED

0% OF CHILDREN IN KAMUINA NSAPU 0% ESCAPED TO KAMUINA NSAPU OF CHILDREN IN KAMUINA NSAPU MONSUCO BASES AVERAGE OF TOP 7 PERPETRATORS ESCAPED TO KAMUINA NSAPU MONSUCO BASES AVERAGE OF TOP 7 PERPETRATORS

Surrender

One in three (28%) children recruited by Kamuina Nsapu surrendered individually or with their chiefs in response to calls for demobilization from MONUSCO, chiefs, or, occasionally, parents.372

This was far higher than any other armed group in the DRC. August and October 2017, hundreds of children surrendered By comparison, the armed groups with the next highest rates at a time – far more than could be individually documented. of surrender – Rayia Mutomboki and Mayi Mayi Mazembe - In just one mission launched on 8 September 2017, MONUSCO amounted to just 6% of all children recruited by those groups. CPS separated 157 children, including 32 girls, ages 5 to 17; four In a typical example, a 13-year-old boy surrendered in June 2017 days later, 134 more children, including 27 girls were separated, with his unit after his commander negotiated a peace deal with after MONUSCO child protection staff negotiated directly with the FARDC and demobilized.373 customary chiefs.375

MONUSCO community and radio demobilization awareness- raising proved to be influential in swaying children to surrender or for commanders to release children voluntarily, as, for example, the 11-year-old boy who surrendered with his chief after hearing MONUSCO DDR messages in April 2017.374 Between

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 93 PART II: Kamuina Nsapu

Escape

Relative to their counterparts in the East, a small proportion – 26% - of children recruited by Kamuina Nsapu escaped.

This may be due to the deep ethnic-religious-political As the fighting wore on, children’s motives for escape commitment reported by many children, the effectiveness grew stronger and boiled down to two factors: survival and of negotiations and demobilization campaigns, or the high disillusionment. As they watched their comrades die and units detention levels of children attempting to escape to family dwindle, fear for their lives prompted more children to escape.377 or NGOs. Scattered across rural areas, children tended to flee Others sought safety from harsh punishments within the militia toward the regional capitals of Tshikapa or Kananga, while itself, like the 15-year-old boy who escaped after suffering ill- others reportedly fled to refugee camps across the Angolan treatment for refusing to fight the FARDC or the 14-year-old border.376 who fled after militants accused him of being a FARDC spy and cut off one of his ears.378

Arrest & Capture

Children recruited by Kamuina Nsapu had the highest arrest rate among children associated with any armed group in the DRC: At least 20% of all children documented by the UN as recruited by Kamuina Nsapu were arrested.

Significantly, this included high rates of girls arrested (18% Brutal treatment of children during their arrest, capture and of all girls recruited), whereas girls were very rarely arrested detention amounted in many cases to ill-treatment, including for association with armed groups in the East. This may be kicking, beating, deprivation of food and water for up to two due to the high numbers of child combatants, including girls, weeks at a time.380 In one deeply concerning case, the boy who were captured by FARDC during battle and subsequently never made it to detention: The 12-year-old boy, recruited in arrested, lack of familiarity among Kasai-based FARDC, PNC September 2016, was arrested while en route to Nganza to and Military Court with the child DDR and juvenile justice reinforce Kamuina Nsapu positions. His captors badly beat the processes, or the politicized nature of the violence. Like armed boy, chopped off his thumb and left machete lacerations across groups in the East, such as the ADF or Mayi Mayi Mazembe, his chest, shoulders and head before abandoning him in the Kamuina Nsapu targeted prisons, releasing detained members bush.381 while simultaneously attacking a state symbol. This was how a 12-year-old boy was freed when the militia mounted an attack on Kamayi Prison, where he was held in Dimbelenge, Kasai Central.379

P. 94 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Kamuina Nsapu

Endnotes

278 256050 317 232828 359 240881. See also MONUSCO, JMAC Profile: Kamuina Nsapu and the Dynamics of Violence in the Kasai Region, 2 279 256327, see also 256254 318 235732 May 2017, page 8.

280 251446 319 261226 360 239171, see also 239206

281 239200 320 I244267, 232823, 232828, 240796, 240866, 240899. 361 232027, 232022, 234504, 251446

282 234494 321 251529 362 232027, 232022, 234504, 251446, 251391, 246039, 234501, 236264 283 244457 322 261261 363 235146, 243766, 256097 284 255988, see also 251446, 255657, 256018, 256039, 323 235975, 236198, 255966. 256710, 258711, 261206, 261230, 261226, 261371 364 239125 324 For additional details, see MONUSCO, JMAC Profile: 285 I261208 Kamuina Nsapu and the Dynamics of Violence in the Kasai 365 259883 Region, 2 May 2017. 286 261253 366 244220, see also 244267 in which children witnessed 325 239737, 232845 FARDC killing up to 14 children in Masuika, where there are 287 261226, see also whole villages forced to join in 251260, allegedly mass graves. 255267 326 232367, 255676 367 230747, 230840, 230849, 230850, 230867. 288 255651 327 255658 368 255830 and 255857, see also 255860, 255965, 260027 289 255787 328 255660, 256253 369 263819, 263821 290 234489, see also 240780 329 In Luba lore, red ants figure prominently in the tribe’s creation. 370 261356, see also 255947 291 234492, 234498, 238725, 239129, 239294, 247447, 243766, 239394, 247449, 246650, 243761, 238489, 330 232257, 255634, 255638, 255665 371 260074 236264, 235977, 234495. 331 255642, 255651, 255960, 260632 372 260935 292 255865 332 261215 373 239171, see also 239206, 245279, 239450 293 251256, see also 255640, 260076 333 234484, 232290 374 260381, see also 260590, 239765, 240794, 256017, 294 255921 256018, 260889 334 232657 295 256420 375 246652 335 244267 296 255628 376 256710 336 232845, 240905, 240911, 234502 297 255865 377 260000, see also 260900 337 234503 298 234498, see also 251391 378 263812, 256714. To paint a realistically full and complex 338 234509 picture, it should be said that, while fleeing, the 14-year-old 299 255841, 259998 boy abducted and raped a 9-year-old girl. 339 239737, 240911 see also 240866 300 260900 379 I 251807 340 255769 301 256314, see also 256254, 256327 380 232367, 232905, 240811, 238234, 255052. Regarding 341 261037 “torture,” children released from detention bore scars from 302 255774, 240811, 255657 342 240816 their time in prison at the hands of authorities. 303 I 255634 381 343 261206 244253 304 234492, 234498, 238725, 239129, 239294, 247447, 243766, 239394, 247449, 246650, 243761, 238489, 344 235975, 236198 236264, 235977, 234495. 345 255901 305 235977, 240877, 243761, 246650, 251529, 2515214, 346 256021 306 255835 347 239779 307 261013 348 232290, 232657, 232383, 234484. 234502, 236264, see 308 240752 also 232657

309 255949, 255955 349 236187

310 244220, 244267 350 256342, 256485, 256490 and 256480, see also 251807

311 255945 351 240877

312 259087, 259097, 259868 352 236187, see also 244267

313 244220, 244267 353 235721

314 The United Nations verified 324 schools attacked by 354 243761 Kamuina Nsapu in 2016 and 2017. By comparison, 22 355 schools were verified as attacked by Mayi Mayi Mazembe, 256269, 235721 the second highest number of attacks in the DRC from 356 255837 2014 to 2017.

357 315 232209 232367, 255965

358 316 232212, 232214, 232215 240888, 255267, 240752

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 95 Child Recruitment by Rayia Mutomboki (2016-2017)

IN-DEPTH PROFILE:

Lubero (

Karongo !

Katandele RAYIA MUTOMBOKI ! LUBERO Bilundule ! Bingi Kasinga ! ! Katundu !

Kirumba ! Kisangani Luofu ! !

Kanyabayonga Miriki ! !

Buleusa LUBUTU ! !

Matoto ! Kibirizi !

Mpeti Kyahala ! ! Pinga Kikuku Kilima ! ! ! Nyanzale ! Kashuga I WALIKALE ! NORD-KIVU Misoke ! Mweso RUTSHURU !

Bunyampuli ! Mpoﬁ ! Biruwe Tongo ! Kibua ! ! Kitchanga !

Kashebere Butare ! ! Mwamvula ! ! MANIEMA ! Nyabiondo Kanyatsi ! Masisi ! ( Walikale Mihanga Ntoto ! Kirolirwe ( ! Kabati Kahundu ! MASISI ! ! Osso ! Bilu Bihambwe ! ! Mushake ! Karuba! ! Sake ! Bushi ! Mutiko Kirotshe !Mugunga Kasese Ongoka ! ! Monigi ! ! ! Matshumbi ! ! Mikolo ! Itebero Ngungu NYIRANGONGO ! .! ! Nkuba Minova ! Otobora Goma ! ! Kalungu Numbi PUNIA ! Hombo Musenge ! !

Idjwi ( Bushushu ! Bunyakiri ! Kalehe ( IDJWI Myowe KALEHE !

Lwiro ! Lolo ! ! Katana Kavumu Butorangwe ! ! Adikivu ! Lupumpu Bikenge ! ! Shifuma ! RWANDA Katshungu ! Kabare Tshakindo ( ! Bukavu ! Ikozi KABARE . Lutala ! ! ! ! Panzi Saninga SUD-KIVU Magene ! Walungu ( Kigulube Lubimbe II Cizibamunya ! Isezia ! ! Shabunda ! Lubimbe ! Gweshe ( SHABUNDA ! Rushebeyi Mubone ! Wangoye ! ! ! Kamanyola WALUNGU ! Alimba Muhinga ! ! Luvungi Matili Kibombo Mudubwe ! ! ! ! Kalama ! Kigwema ! Lusasa MWENGA ! Bizinzo Rubanga ! ! ! Munimba Mwenga Lemera Mutarule ! ( ! Dukumwami ! Isasa ! ! Sange ! Lemera UVIRA

Miki ! !

UNITED NATIONS Number of Children Recruited: Child Recruitment < 50 by Rayia Mutomboki 50-100 from 2014 to 2017 100-200 200-300 Country Capital Major Road ! 300-400 .! Province Capital International Boundary ( Territory Capital Province Boundary 400-500 ! Relevant Sites Territory Boundary 500-750

Source: MONUSCO Child Protection, June 2018 Disclaimer: This product is conﬁdential and exclusive property 750-1000 of United Nations MONUSCO. It should neither be disseminated nor sold outside MONUSCO. This product is designed for MONUSCO 0 25 50 100 operational requirements. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply o cial endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. 1000-2000 Kilometers P. 96 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 TERRITORY MOTIVE North Kivu (Walikale, Masisi), South Self-defense; Control of natural resources; Taxation Kivu (Shabunda, Mwenge, Kalehe, ETHNICITY Walungu) Tembo / Nyanga / Rega / Mushi / Bashi

CHILDREN RECRUITED PRIMARY MEANS OF RECRUITMENT Total: 554 Forced (39%); Voluntary (8%) Trend: Decrease (Peak 2015) PRIMARY PUSH FACTORS AMONG VOLUNTEERS Girls: 11% / Boys: 89% Revenge/Ethnic Defense (49%); Family & Peer Pressure (30%); Abducted: 33% Economic (19%); Self-Protection (9%) Sexual Violence against Girls: 41% Under 15: 38% PRIMARY MEANS OF SEPARATION Combatants: 45% Escape (65%); Re-Recruited: 1% Release following NGO Awareness-Raising (19%) Average

TRENDS IN CHILD RECRUITMENT BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI Girls Under 15 Combatants Abductions Total Children Recruited 250 250 TOTAL CHILDREN

UNDER 15

ABDUCTIONS 200 200 COMBATANTS

GIRLS

150 150

100 100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

50 50

20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017

The0 Rayia Mutomboki armed movement began in between Rayia Mutomboki and other armed groups BLUE, SEA GREEN, SLATE GRAY, BURNT ORANGE AND DEEPShabunda PURPLE Territory, South Kivu in 2005 and spread to have been somewhat fluid, and often short-lived. In North Kivu around 2011. The groups did not develop the past, the FARDC reportedly benefitted from Rayia

GIRLS UNDER 15 under a central leadershipTOTAL CHILDRENbut rather emanated as a Mutomboki’s anti-Rwandophone agenda and clashes

spontaneous movement from various Tembo, RE-RECRUITEDMushi and againstABDUCTIONS FDLR FOCA, until the FDLR FOCA vacated Rega villages in South Kivu, and Nyanga and Tembo Kalehe and Shabunda. In 2017, Rayia Mutomboki COMBATANTS COMBATANTS villages in North Kivu, all of which felt under common intensified its attacks in an attempt to gain control of threat from the FDLR and in need of self-defense mineral resources, particularly gold mines in South Kivu. mechanisms. At its origin, this diverse and loosely- Rayia Mutomboki groups persist largely due to absent or

organized networkTOTAL CHILDREN was supported by local communities GIRLSweak state security,UNDER compounded 15 COMBATANTSby poor road access and chiefs. In keeping with its loose structure, alliances and the remoteness of many of their strongholds. RE-RECRUITED ABDUCTIONS

VOLUNTARY “OUR250 STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 97 FORCED 200 UNKNOWN

VOLUNTARY FORCED UNKOWN 150

100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017 PART II: Rayia Mutomboki

I. BEFORE:

CHILDREN RECRUITED HOW120120 & WHY CHILDRENBY RAYIA WEREMUTOMBOKI RECRUITED DEATH OF CHIEF RAYIA Abducted MUTOMBOKI 100BY100 RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 80

40 40 KS T RAN NUMBER OF CHILDREN OOS 20 B BOR 20 AP LA CHE CTION 0 S OTE -PR MAY MAY F JULY JULY JUNE R JUNE L MIC APRIL APRIL E ONO MARCH S C AUGUST O % AUGUST E JANUARY OCTOBER APRILMAYJUNEJULYAUGUSTSEPTEMBEROCTOBERNOVEMBERDECEMBERJANUARYFEBRUARYMARCHAPRILMAYJUNEJULY9AUGUSTSEPTEMBEROCTOBERNOVEMBER9% DECEMBEROCTOBER FEBRUARY DECEMBER 1 DECEMBER RE NOVEMBER NOVEMBER U SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER SS T PRE ER C PE ENSE 2016 2017 & DEF Y IC A IL HN M ET F A E/ F G % N 0 E L 3 V E L R % 9 U 4

P S

U P

Lorem ipsum

AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 RAYIA PERPETRATORS MUTOMBOKI 645 VOLUNTARY 8% = 645 VOLUNTARY FORCED

UNKNOWN 156 / 645

TARY LUN VO 3% = 0.2418604651162791 2

51%

UNKNOWN

HOW RAYIA 182 / 645

= 0.2821705426356589

5 %

MUTOMBOKI

RECRUITED 307 / 645

N = 0.475968992248062

CHILDREN

39% Rayia MutumboFORCED

P. 98 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Rayia Mutomboki

Push Factors: Why Children “Volunteered” for Rayia Mutomboki

Revenge & Ethnic Self-Defense Survival Strategy: Economic Support

As the tit-for-tat cycle of reprisals played out in North and South Like Nyatura and to a lesser extent FDLR FOCA, Rayia Kivu, the primary reason that children joined Rayia Mutomboki Mutomboki’s child recruitment benefited from the often- was to defend their family, village or broader community from dire poverty of children in its zone, particularly in 2017. Rayia FDLR FOCA and from rival Rayia Mutomboki factions.382 This Mutomboki recruiters promised one 14-year-old boy that his “life reasoning spurred 49% of volunteers to join up. This reasoning will change because there [in the camp], there are many good was particularly common in 2014 and increased in frequency things.”391 Small offers could reel a child in, e.g. the 12-year-old and vehemence in 2015 in North Kivu, when FDLR FOCA- boy who followed elements to their camp for regular meals.392 Rayia Mutomboki clashes were frequent and Rayia Mutomboki Others were savvy: One 16-year-old boy whose merchandise actively mobilized its youth to “chase out the Rwanda Hutus” was stolen by elements in Shabunda chose to join the group in a and to “fight against FDLR FOCA’s taxes and murders.”383 calculation that he would no longer be robbed.393

Most frequently, the emphasis was on the external enemy. In Economic survival figured in 19% of child volunteers’ decisions the words of one boy, his goal was to “combat the Rwandans and was usually paired with another push or pull factor, such as in the village,”384 referring to the Hutu-based FDLR FOCA. Less the enticement of food or a salary, adding weight to another frequently, the emphasis was on upholding the values of a child’s reason to join the group. For instance, when a 14-year-old boy’s community. Over a beer, General Maachano personally recruited parents could not pay his school fees, the boy had time on his a 13-year-old boy whom he had reportedly known for many hands and decided to “reinforce” Rayia Mutomboki with the years, saying he must join to “protect our Tembo community.”385 belief that “the group was disappearing.”394 Occasionally, family and peer pressure figured in children’s decisions to defend their communities, e.g. the 13-year-old boy Survival Strategy: Physical Protection convinced by friends already in the group or the 14-year-old girl recruited by her brother, but this factor was much less frequent In the territory held by Rayia Mutomboki, protection was a than in FDLR FOCA.386 rare commodity and a tempting proposition for 9% of child volunteers. Rayia Mutomboki was occasionally viewed as Some volunteers actively sought out high-ranking commanders, a “next best” protector when family fails to provide or is the with one 15-year-old boy going directly to General Ngoa in danger itself, e.g. the 15-year-old who joined after his mother 395 Makombo, Walikale Territory, North Kivu to offer his services.387 passed away and his stepmother threatened to kill him. This line of argument was particularly effective with boys, Other times, children choose self-preservation, even when including a 17-year-old boy who reported feeling proud to the group itself is the danger. In one case, Rayia Mutomboki belong to the group.388 apprehended a 16-year-old boy and 21 of his friends after their football hit a pregnant woman and caused a miscarriage. The Linked to – but far more personal than – ethnic defense, was collective punishment doled out to the whole community was avenging the deaths of loved ones. Often children made such the “donation” of a goat and forced labor, during which Rayia choices immediately after an attack by another armed group Mutomboki beat the boy so badly that he lost consciousness. on a child’s home. For instance, the 15-year-old boy who joined After two days in the hospital, the boy agreed to join, judging he 396 at the encouragement of his community shortly after FDLR would be safer inside than outside Rayia Mutomboki. FOCA pillaged his village and killed his two older brothers and uncle.389 When the coalition fragmented, children directed their desire for revenge internally toward other factions: When the Maachano and Birikoriko factions split in September 2017, Rayia Mutomboki combatants siding with Maachano killed three brothers siding with Birikoriko. At the boys’ burial, their 15-year- old brother decided to join General Birikoriko to one day avenge their deaths.390

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 99 PART II: Rayia Mutomboki

Pull Factors: Why Rayia Mutomboki Recruited Children

Boost Ranks youth with this message: Here we are at this difficult moment. The clearest motive for Rayia Mutomboki factions’ child We must save our community and turn to face the enemy, recruitment was to strategically inflate their ranks. Drumming the Nyatura who have allied themselves with Maachano [the up child recruits was a key part of planning Rayia Mutomboki leader of an opposing faction]. Our strength is in our youth. 401 operations, with rallies held in preparation for attacks on Those who refuse to join us will be taken or killed. Ironically, FARDC, Mayi Mayi Kifuafua, or other Rayia Mutomboki factions, General Maachano made the same argument during his rallies, 402 e.g. Commanders Maachano vs. Birikoriko in 2017.397 Other which children described as “massive.” Crowds reportedly times, recruitment was a response to battlefield losses, which cheered his message at rallies over the Easter holiday, rallies depleted Rayia Mutomboki ranks with casualties, captures or which prompted at least one 16-year-old boy to join his nearest 403 defections. In a sign of commanders’ desperation for manpower commander. in Walikale in 2015 and Shabunda in 2017, Rayia Mutomboki targeted boys as young as 11 to “rebuild.”398 Cheap Labor

In a nod to Rayia Mutomboki’s ambition to control natural Early on in 2014 and 2015, Rayia Mutomboki actively recruited resources in Shabunda and, to a lesser extent, Walikale children at large recruitment drives, especially in areas vacated Territories, mines were closely linked to each stage of the by the FARDC in 2015 as Sukola II moved from position to group’s child recruitment and use. One 14-year-old boy position.399 Rhetoric heard at rallies, particularly in Masisi interviewed was working in Rayia Mutomboki-controlled mines and Walikale, North Kivu, became increasingly laced with the in Mondongo, Walikale Territory, North Kivu, to earn school fees vocabulary of ethnicity and self-defense in 2016 and 2017, when when he was robbed of his minerals and abducted.404 Another Nyatura threatened Hunde and Nyanga communities. During boy was recruited while visiting his father who worked in the the 2016 summer holidays, infighting between Rayia Mutomboki mines,405 a third was recruited while selling fish to miners in Birikoriko and Maachano factions led to dueling recruitment the Kambubi mining site, Walikale Territory to raise money for rallies, with each recounting the misdeeds of the other.400 On school fees,406 and a fourth while digging gold in Lutulu Buzile 15 September 2017, General Birikoriko held a rally calling on all in Shabunda Territory.407

Trigger Violation: Abduction

While some children “voluntarily” joined Rayia Mutomboki, one in three (33%) were abducted in a pattern that clearly mirrored the group’s overall child recruitment patterns, which peaked in 2015. Of all the reasons for Rayia Mutomboki to abduct children, recruitment was the purpose at least 75% of all child abduction cases linked to the group.

Rayia Mutomboki followed FDLR FOCA and Nyatura’s model pillaging target. They promised the boy a share of the loot but, of abducting children to carry plundered goods after looting when he refused, they abducted him, gave him an AK-47 and raids. Motivated by children’s cheap labor, this tactic could said he belonged to Rayia Mutomboki.410 In a grotesque twist, also apply to other tasks, like the 15-year-old girl abducted children were abducted to carry other children, e.g. the 12-year- when Rayia Mutomboki demanded the chief of her village give old girl abducted to carry a commander’s 8-month-old baby, them provisions and one girl to cook the food. This strategy freeing his tired wife.411 was large-scale, with more than 20 children taken at once.408 Some abductions targeted both adults and children, e.g. the When rallies were not productive enough to fill their ranks, 13-year-old boy who was abducted with his father and was Rayia Mutomboki commanders moved on to abduction beaten when he was too tired to carry heavy loads.409 In one campaigns.412 Such campaigns could sometimes be subtle, such case, a boy was abducted before the pillaging began and his as levying a “tax” on all boys413 while others were blatant, e.g. first mission was to participate: The 15-year-old was leaving Major Bakisama’s campaign to boost ranks included an order Mukura football stadium in Walikale Territory, North Kivu when that all the young people living in his area in Masisi Territory be Rayia Mutomboki elements demanded he guide them to their abducted.414

P. 100 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Rayia Mutomboki

Rayia Mutomboki extorted communities by holding children Rayia Mutomboki Major Bakisima’s combatants surrounded hostage prior to their abduction, such as the 16-year-old the market and abducted all the young men and boys they boy abducted while reading in a field in Champunu, Walikale found within.418 Rayia Mutomboki appeared to view schools as Territory. Warning the boy that if he tried to escape or utter a particularly fertile abduction grounds in Walikale, North Kivu word he would be shot, the elements marched him to his village, and Shabunda, South Kivu in 2014 and 2015, with a surge of extorted three goats from his parents and took both the boy abduction and child recruitment seen during school vacations and the goats.415 in 2016. Classmates reported being taken from their classrooms in groups of up to 12419 and dozens of others were abducted on More so than other armed groups in the East, Rayia Mutomboki their way to or from school.420 employed a clear strategy to target specific locations – schools, market, mines – and times in order to maximize the numbers Occasionally, abductions were opportunistic, with children of children abducted.416 Recruiters reportedly timed abductions having the bad luck to cross paths with Rayia Mutomboki, like a for market days and just before or after school hours.417 One group of five 15-year-old boys abducted while fishing.421 15-year-old boy interviewed was abducted in Masisi Centre when

CHILDREN RECRUITMENT VIA ABDUCTION BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED ABDUCTED 250 ABDUCTED

TOTAL NUMBER OF 200 CHILDREN RECRUITED

150

100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50

2014 2015 2016 2017

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

Re-Recruitment

Although rare, re-recruitment by Rayia Mutomboki affected 1% of all child recruits.

After returning home for cholera treatment, one 15-year-old Mutomboki escapee living with a foster family – was medevaced boy’s parents attempted to stave off his re-recruitment by by MONUSCO from Ntoto, Walikale Territory, after refusing to be paying bribes each time Rayia Mutomboki elements came re-recruited. Another child soldier, age 16, had shot him in the searching for the boy; the third time they came, the boy was leg, on his commander’s orders.424 re-recruited.422 When Rayia Mutomboki could not re-recruit a child, they turned to his/her siblings, who, while not entirely interchangeable, were recruited under the pretext of replacing the escapee.423 Children were not spared from re-recruiting other children. In March 2014, a 15-year-old boy – a recent Rayia

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 101 PART II: Rayia Mutomboki

AGEII. DURING: GENDER NATIONALITY IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF OF THE MILITIA’S EXISTENCE, RAYIA MUTOMBOKI WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST CHILD LIFE INSIDE RAYIA MUTOMBOKI RECRUITER IN THE DRC AGE GENDER NATIONALITY IN THE FIRSTSINCE YEAR 2014 AND AND A THE HALF OFNUMBER THE MILITIA’S ONE RECRUITER 150 150 EXISTENCE,OF CHILDREN RAYIA IN 2017: 370 Support CHILDREN (58 GIRLS, 312 MUTOMBOKI WAS THE Combatants THIRD HIGHESTBOYS) AND CHILD 264 CHILDREN 120 120 RECRUITER(25 GIRLS, IN THE 239 DRC BOYS) WERE SINCE RECRUITED2014 AND THE BY THE MILITIA THE PROFILE OF A CHILD RECRUITED BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI FROM 2014-2017 IN 2017 AND 2016, NUMBER ONE RECRUITER 90 90 OF CHILDREN INRESPECTIVELY. 2017: 370 CHILDREN (58 GIRLS, 312 BOYS) AND 264 CHILDREN 45% 9% (25 GIRLS, 239 BOYS) WERE OF ALL 60CHILD SOLDIERS 60 RECRUITED BY THE MILITIA OF CHILDREN USED IN RECRUITED IN THE DRC IN 2017 AND 2016, COMBATANT ROLES BY BETWEEN 2014 AND NUMBER OF CHILDREN 38% 11% 2% RESPECTIVELY.#1 RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 2017, 30AND 30 RECRUIT DOCUMENTED WERE UNDER WERE GIRLS ARE FOREIGN BORN ER IN 9% BY THE UN, WERE 15 YEARS OLD OF ALL CHILDRECRUITED SOLDIERS BY 2017 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 RECRUITEDRAYIA IN THE MUTOMBOKI DRC WITH BETWEEN 2014 AND RAYIA MUTOMBOKI AVERAGE % OF 38% 11% 2% #1 370 2017, AND CHILD SUPPORT ROLES CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS WERECHILD UNDER COMBATANTS WERE GIRLS ARE FOREIGN BORN RECRUITCHILDRE DOCUMENTEDFROM ALL TOP 7 2014 2015 2016 2017 ER IN RAYIA MUTOMBOKI PERPETRATORS 15 YEARS OLD N CHILD SUPPORT ROLES BY THE UN, WERE CHILD RECRUITMENT BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 2017RECRUIT RECRUITED BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI WITHED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 370 OF ALL CHILDREN TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL CHILDRERECRUITED IN THE 1500 TREND OF RECRUITMENT BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI N DRC ARE RECRUITED RECRUITBY RAYIA ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED 1200 IN THE DRC ED MUTOMBOKI OF ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED IN THE 900 DRC ARE RECRUITED BY RAYIA 73% 600 MUTOMBOKI OF GIRLS SURVIVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017

IN RAYIA NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300

2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE 0 IN RAYIA MUTOMBOKI AGAINST GIRLS 2014 2015 2016 2017 FROM ALL TOP 7

FENSE C DE HNI ET ECTION The5% Boys and Girls Recruited Eby/ RayiaROT Mutomboki NG F-P C OF CHILDREN E EL ONOMI EV S EC SURVIVE SEXUAL R 8% 0% URE At first glance, the fact that Rayia Mutomboki% 1 remains4 theE SSDRC’s fourth highest child recruiter since 2014, VIOLENCE IN RAYIA 7 PR ER withMUTOMBOKI a total of 554 children, including 61 girls, recruited,PE risks concealing an encouraging trend: Child Y/ IL M recruitment by Rayia Mutomboki has decreasedA by 73% since 2015. F % 7 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 4 BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN RAYIA MUTOMBOKI Age Daily Life & Initiation Rites

When it comes to theABDUCTED recruitment OVER of young TIME children, Rayia Like Mayi Mayi Mazembe andBY YEARKamuina Nsapu, magic figured Mutomboki stacks up with its adversaries: 38% of children Rayia prominently in Rayia Mutomboki’s daily life, with fetishes and Mutomboki are younger than 15. This percentage was fairly tattoos invoking strength. The first step in initiation is tattooing, consistent overABDUCTED the years, with OVER a small TIME peak in 2016. Notably, usually by child fétisheursBY YEAR and not always skillfully: One 17-year-old girls were twice as likely to be under-15-year-old than boys. boy’s tattoo became infected after a single razor blade was used on all the new recruits.425 Children reported being beaten on arrival CHILDREN ABDUCTED 80 BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKIby other children in a hazing ritual. One 14-year-old boy arrived a Gender 80 400 400 Abducted Zero 70 Rayia Mutomboki forest350 350camp, where other children “welcomed” 70 Recruited Overall, girls made up 11% of all children recruited by Rayia 426 60 him with slaps to the face to “give him spirit.” However, once 60 300 300 Mutomboki, a higher-than-average percentageCHILDREN compared ABDUCTED 80 50 BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI initiated, abuse appeared to ebb slightly, with one 12-year-old boy 80 50 400 400250 250 to the 5% of FDLR FOCA or Nyatura. However, this relatively rememberingAbducted that he was allowed to play when his jobs were done.427 Zero 70 70 40 40 350 350200 200 inconspicuous figure obscured a significant increase in 2016 Recruited 60 30 30 150 150 and 2017, when60 girls made up 40% of all Rayia Mutomboki child 300 300 While military training was ubiquitous, indoctrinationCHILDREN was RECRUITEDrarer, 50 20 20 100 100 BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 50 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 250 250 NUMBER OF CHILDREN recruits. although reported increasingly in 2017, and included four days 10 50 40 40 10 200 20050 of ideological dogma rooted in ethnic opposition to Nyatura and 30 30 150 150 0 2016 2017 0 428 2016 2017 ownership of “our land.” Drug use was rarelyCHILDREN reported RECRUITED but when 20 20 100 100 BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI NUMBER OF CHILDREN it was it was doneNUMBER OF CHILDREN so casually, as if an everyday occurrence, with one 10 2016 2017 50 50 2016 2017 10 15-year-old guard learning that smoking marijuana kept him from 429 0 2016 2017 feeling0 the cold during long2016 hours at his post. 2017

2016 2017 2016 2017 P. 102 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017

NDC-Rénové

FRPI

Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Rayia Mutomboki

Kamuina Nsapu

Nyatura

FDLR FOCA PART II: Rayia Mutomboki

Role: Combatant Role: Support

Just under half (45%) of all children recruited by Rayia Like Kamuina Nsapu, protective powers were central to Rayia Mutomboki since 2014 fought. However, over the years, fewer Mutomboki’s modus operandi. However, in Rayia Mutomboki, children have played this role, decreasing from 55% to 37% while children played the role of fétisheurs or witch doctors, routinely overall recruitment rates also dropped. This role was played only working their magic on both child and adult combatants.433 by boys, with just three girls reporting participating in combat. Along with the role of escort, fétisheurs and witch doctors were the most common support roles for both boys and girls, Compared to its better-organized and more disciplined with the youngest deemed the most powerful by virtue of counterparts, Rayia Mutomboki gave child combatants basic their innocence.434 One General chose a boy, 13-year-old and military training lasting from three days to two weeks. One slight for his age, to be a witch doctor, because his age and 17-year-old combatant recalled how, during his arms training, he size meant that he knew “nothing of the bad.” Despite already accidentally fired off 50 rounds and his commander warned him being circumcised; the boy was circumcised a second time as to pay attention or he would accidentally kill his comrades.430 initiation as a “doctor of the strong Kabiri.” Carried on the backs Rayia Mutomboki-associated children, including girls,431 fought of combatants during long journeys, the boy-doctor doled out other Rayia Mutomboki factions, FDLR FOCA, Nyatura, and fetishes to the combatants.435 Mayi Mayi Kifuafua for the control of villages. Children reported handling AK47s, knives, spears and machetes, weapons of lower Like in Nyatura, Rayia Mutomboki used children to support caliber than reported by other children recruited in the East, its illicit activities, whether digging and collecting taxes at perhaps indicating a shortage of modern weapons among Rayia Rayia Mutomboki -controlled mines in Walikale,436 sifting for Mutomboki factions. 432 gold in the Kanoso River, Walungu Territory, South Kivu,437 or manning road blocks.438 In these enterprises, Rayia Mutomboki valued educated children who could serve as secretaries or accountants.439

As was typical of armed groups in the East, a child could serve as escort, sport, spy, cook, domestic, secretary, tracker of other armed groups440 , pillager, or tax collector posted to roadblocks and markets. Girls usually played semi-combatant roles, e.g. guards, or domestic roles, such as. babysitters, as in FDLR FOCA.441 These roles were fluid, with one task blending into another as Rayia Mutomboki’s priorities changed. For example, a 15-year-old boy was used to spy on FARDC and FDLR FOCA positions while planning operations and to transport ammunition during those attacks.442 Rayia Mutomboki commanders used “promotions” from support to combatant or low ranking to higher-ranking support as a reward for good behavior or to handle fast turnover as ranks became depleted. Children were “elevated” from, domestic work or food supplier, for example, to ammunition supply manager, ambush squad or drill sergeant when a commander noticed their “hard work.”443

CHILDREN’S ROLES IN RAYIA MUTOMBOKI FROM 2014 - 2017 CHILDREN’S ROLES IN RAYIA MUTOMBOKI OVER TIME

150 150 Support

Combatants 120 120

150 150 Support 90 90 Combatants 120 120

45% 60 60 OF CHILDREN USED IN 90 90 COMBATANT ROLES BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 30 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 30 45% 60 60 OF CHILDREN USED IN COMBATANT ROLES BY

0 2014 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 2015 2016 2017 RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 30 30 RAYIA MUTOMBOKI AVERAGE % OF CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD SUPPORT ROLES FROM ALL TOP 7 2014 2015 2016 2017 PERPETRATORS RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 0 CHILD SUPPORT ROLES 2014 2015 2016 2017 RAYIA MUTOMBOKI AVERAGE % OF CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD SUPPORT ROLES CHILD COMBATANTS 2014CHILD COMBATANTS2015 2016TOTAL CHILDREN2017 RECRUITED FROM ALL TOP 7 BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI RAYIA MUTOMBOKI PERPETRATORS TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL CHILD SUPPORT ROLES 1500 TREND OF RECRUITMENT BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI

ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 1200 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL IN THE DRC 1500 TREND OF RECRUITMENT “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 BYP. RAYIA 103 MUTOMBOKI 900 ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED 1200 IN THE DRC

73% 600 OF GIRLS SURVIVE 900 SEXUAL VIOLENCE

IN RAYIA NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300 73% 600 OF GIRLS SURVIVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE

2014 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 2015 2016 2017 IN RAYIA 300

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE 0 IN RAYIA MUTOMBOKI AGAINST GIRLS 2014 2015 2016 2017 FROM ALL TOP 7 2014 2015 2016 2017

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE 0 IN RAYIA MUTOMBOKI AGAINST GIRLS 2014 2015 2016 2017 FROM ALL TOP 7 FENSE C DE HNI ET ECTION 5% E/ ROT NG F-P IC OF CHILDREN E EL ONOM NSE EV S EC DEFE SURVIVE SEXUAL R % % IC 8 40 SURE HN VIOLENCE IN RAYIA % 1 RES ET ECTION 5% 7 R P E/ ROT MUTOMBOKI EE G -P OF CHILDREN P EN LF OMIC Y/ V SE CON IL E E SURVIVE SEXUAL M R 8% 0% SURE VIOLENCE IN RAYIA A % 1 4 RES F 7 R P MUTOMBOKI % EE 7 /P SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 4 Y BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN RAYIA MUTOMBOKI IL M A F % 7 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 4 BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN RAYIA MUTOMBOKI

NDC-Rénové

FRPI

Mayi Mayi Mazembe NDC-Rénové

Rayia Mutomboki FRPI

Kamuina Nsapu Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Nyatura Rayia Mutomboki

FDLR FOCA Kamuina Nsapu

Nyatura

FDLR FOCA PART II: Rayia Mutomboki

Violations Triggered by Child Recruitment: The Risks Children Faced in Rayia Mutomboki

Sexual Violence Killing & Maiming

While the rate of sexual violence among all children in Rayia With one in two children recruited by Rayia Mutomboki seeing Mutomboki was only 3%, among girls, this figure jumped to combat, the likelihood of death or injury was high. One 15-year- 36%. Like Nyatura, both girls and boys reported that girls were old boy witnessed at least 25 children killed during fighting used as sex slaves, with one 15-year-old boy referring to at least between FDLR and Rayia Mutomboki in Walikale.448 Another 20 girl sex slaves held at his camp.444 “Wives” as young as 13 16-year-old boy fought Mayi Mayi Kifuafua in Rwindi, Walikale were at the top of the group’s gender hierarchy, even if they Territory in 2016, sustaining injuries that required over a month had been forced to “marry” on pain of death or if they were a of hospitalization at Malembe. In an indication of the level of commander’s fourth wife.445 Like in other armed groups, both Rayia Mutomboki’s control over the area, Rayia Mutomboki paid adults and children perpetrated sexual violence against other the boy’s hospital bill, granted him one week’s rest at home children, with one 14-year-old girl “married” to another child and then took him back to the their camp to fight again.449 soldier and ultimately bearing his two children, and another Children in semi-combatant roles – support roles that fell short 14-year-old girl combatant raped by two other child soldiers.446 of combatant status but still exposed children to deadly risks Additionally, at least three boys disclosed being raped while – were also injured, e.g. the 15-year-old boy recruited by Rayia associated with Rayia Mutomboki, in an indication of what is Mutomboki in Kahuzi Byega National Park, South Kivu in 2015. likely an under-reported violation against boys.447 Two days later, while being used as a porter, FARDC attacked Rayia Mutomboki’s defensive position in Kabenga Forest. The bullet entered his boy’s left cheek and punctured his nasal cavity before exiting through the right cheek.450

P. 104 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 67% 8% 9% 13%

Released

Arrested

Escaped

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED 250 ABDUCTED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED

200 TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED TOTAL NUMBER OF 250 CHILDREN RECRUITED TREND LINE 150 200

100 150 100

2% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50 RELEASED 50 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017

3% 0 OTHER 2014 2015 2016 2017

Other

Released

Arrested

Escaped

600 TOTAL CHILDREN 500 ESCAPED SEPARATED TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 500 RECRUITED 400 ARRESTED 400 Other

Released 300 300 PART II: Rayia Mutomboki Arrested Escaped 200 200 100 Other % NUMBER OF CHILDREN 0.40 100 III. AFTER: 0.35 Surrendered 0.30 2014 2015 0.252016 2017 0.20 0.15 Released 2014 2015 2016 2017 0.10 HOW CHILDREN0.05 WERE SEPARATED 0.00 2014 Arrested2015 2016 2017

FROM RAYIA MUTOMBOKI Escaped

AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 RAYIA PERPETRATORS MUTOMBOKI 600 65% ESCAPED ESCAPED 500 ARRESTED 3% 400 UNDETERMINED RELEASED 300 KAMUINA 6% SURRENDERED NSAPU ER 200 SURRENDERED TH UNDETERMINED O 22% % 3

OF CHILDREN IN D HOW 100 E

R NUMBER OF CHILDREN E RAYIA MUTOMBOKI D N E R 0 ESCAPE TO R CHILDREN U

6 2014 2015 2016 2017

% 7

3 %

LEFT

P SOUGHT D

E E

S MONUSCO BASE

L RAYIA

% OTHER

RAYIA MUTOMBOKI

D MUTOMBOKI E

AVERAGE OF R

ALL PERPETRATORS

19% RELEASED 7% ARRESTED

10% HOW CHILDREN LEFT RAYIA MUTOMBOKI OVER TIME OF CHILDREN IN RAYIA MUTOMBOKI 200 200 ESCAPED TO SurrenderedRAYIA MUTOMBOKI Surrendered MONSUCO BASES Released AVERAGE OF Released TOP 7 PERPETRATORS Arrested 150 150 Arrested Escaped Escaped

100 100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50 50

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 ESCAPED ARRESTED RELEASED SURRENDERED

Escape

The majority – 65% - of children recruited by Rayia Mutomboki escaped.

Why children escaped from Rayia Mutomboki old girl, originally recruited by her brother, fled after finding the 458 Children most frequently cited the hardship and disappointment bodies of two children killed during clashes. In the words of of life in the bush as the impetus for escape,451 e.g. witnessing one boy, he escaped “after seeing how my comrades fell like 459 a 14-year-old girl die of illness,452 not “living well,”453 and flies in a fire.” In rare cases, ideological disagreements with “searching for food, not washing, fighting every day and losing commanders prompted children to escape not to civilian life but 460 [our] fighters.”454 As internal spats increased with the divisions rather to switch to another armed group, e.g. NDC-Cheka. between Maachano and Birikoriko (“sons of the same territory” To a lesser extent than Nyatura, children in Rayia Mutomboki in Ufamandu),455 children also cited fear of being killed456 and also responded to awareness-raising messages heard over the 461 worsening atrocities as reasons for their escape.457 A 12-year- radio.

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 105 67% 8% 9% 13%

Released

Arrested

Escaped

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED 250 ABDUCTED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED

200 TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED TOTAL NUMBER OF 250 CHILDREN RECRUITED TREND LINE 150 200

100 150 100

2% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50 RELEASED 50 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017

3% 0 OTHER 2014 2015 2016 2017

Other

Released

Arrested

Escaped

600 TOTAL CHILDREN 500 ESCAPED SEPARATED TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 500 RECRUITED 400 ARRESTED 400 Other PART II: Rayia Mutomboki Released 300 300 Arrested Escaped 200 200 100 Other NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100 Surrendered 2014 2015 2016 2017 How children escaped from Rayia Mutomboki Where children escaped to Released Like children escaping other armed groups,2014 children in Rayia2015 Notably,2016 communities2017 and NGOs play a central role in children’s Arrested Mutomboki were savvy and opportunistic in their choice of escape from Rayia Mutomboki, as well as their release. Children

when, how and where to escape. Many calculated that the cover reported approaching child protection NGO staff members Escaped of darkness and physical distance from a commander brought directly after escaping, e.g. at community awareness-raising AVERAGE 472 AMONG TOP 7 RAYIA the greatest chance of success. This included the 13-year-old workshops in Walikale, where CARITAS runs a CTO. PERPETRATORS MUTOMBOKI boy who waited until his commander was on a hijacking mission, 65% ESCAPED ESCAPED the 16-year-old boy who escaped after his commander died Although they play a less significant role than for children ARRESTED fighting FDLR FOCA in Walikale Territory,462 and the 13-year- fleeing FDLR FOCA or Nyatura, MONUSCO3% bases figured in the UNDETERMINED RELEASED 473 old boy who escaped from his hospital bed after his combat escapes of 10% of children associated with Rayia Mutomboki. SURRENDERED 463 6% 474 wounds healed. Usually, children saw MONUSCO bases as safe destinations.ER SURRENDERED TH UNDETERMINED O 22% % 3

However, the active role of local NGOs in Rayia Mutomboki- OF CHILDREN IN D HOW E R E RAYIA MUTOMBOKI D Most of these children escaped in 2014 and 2015, when held territory, also meant that MONUSCO frequentlyN assisted in E R ESCAPE TO R CHILDREN U

% fighting against the FARDC was at its peak, giving children extracting children from hiding places after their initial escape, 7

3 %

LEFT

numerous opportunities. Just hearing rumors of an FARDC like the 17-year-old boy who hid in the jungle until he was, in his

E E

D S

475 E

L RAYIA

attack encouraged children to escape, even if the attack never own words, “rescued by MONUSCO.” CommunityE members

464

RAYIA MUTOMBOKI

materialized. In 2014 and 2015, when Rayia Mutomboki also referred recently escaped children to MONUSCO,D MUTO suchMBOKI E

AVERAGE OF R

surrenders peaked, some children escaped, rather than as the priest in Walikale Territory who directed a 14-year-old

ALL PERPETRATORS

surrender with their commanders.465 Clashes between Rayia escapee to a MONUSCO base19% in Kashebere, Walikale Territory. 476 Mutomboki factions, such as the June 2015 rivalry between RELEASED 466 Ngoa and Shebi, also gave children a chance to getaway. In a 7% revealing example of the complex alliances and use of proxies, as ARRESTED well as the loose allegiances of Rayia Mutomboki factions, four boys escaped in Ntoto, Walikale Territory, North Kivu during the 10% June 2015 fighting between the two Rayia Mutomboki factions OF CHILDREN IN RAYIA MUTOMBOKI backed by NDC-Cheka on one side, and Mayi Mayi Kifuafua and ESCAPED TO RAYIA MUTOMBOKI MONSUCO BASES NDC-Rénové on the other.467 AVERAGE OF TOP 7 PERPETRATORS

The ways children escaped Rayia Mutomboki attest to both their determination and their ingenuity, often attempting multiple times. Children reported receiving help from other children, including those who remained with the group, like the 14-year- old girl who fled with the help of another child soldier who was her commander’s escort.468 A 14-year-old “wife” escaped the Rayia Mutomboki minder who accompanied her to her uncle’s funeral, 469 and a group of five 15-year-old boys slipped away at night wearing stolen FARDC uniforms, walking all night to Nyabangi, where a local NGO and MONUSCO partner contacted MONUSCO to extract the children.470

And, in the rarest good fortune, one 15-year-old boy became lost during a battle and found himself alone in the forest, giving him the chance to escape.471

P. 106 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Rayia Mutomboki

Release

Rayia Mutomboki had one of the highest rates of release among armed groups in the East, with 19% of all children recruited by the group voluntarily released by their commanders after awareness-raising by local NGOs and local chiefs, mostly in Walikale and Masisi Territories, North Kivu and Kalehe Territory, South Kivu.477

This was second highest nationally, after FRPI, and far beyond a snowball effect among Rayia Mutomboki commanders, the 2% of other top recruiters in the East. Encouragingly, including one captain in Walikale Territory, North Kivu who was release levels remained steady over the years and commanders reportedly so swayed by a NGO that he not only released all of released girls at the very high rate of 48% of all girls recruited his own children but, in turn, called and sensitized the rest of the by Rayia Mutomboki. commanders in his faction to release their children to their “very happy” parents.480 One commander referred a 12-year-old girl Children’s release stories testified to the impact of regular directly to the NGO that first sensitized him in 2015 in Walikale and locally based awareness-raising of Rayia Mutomboki Territory, North Kivu.481 commanders on child rights in general and child recruitment and use in particular. For example, multiple meetings with Rayia Mutomboki commanders’ release of children was not a local NGO in 2014 eventually convinced one commander in always altruistic. A number of children were released after Masisi Territory, North Kivu to release all the children in his parents paid bribes,482 like the 15-year-old boy whose mother group and another to release four boys and two girls.478 In negotiated for her son’s release for an undisclosed sum in June the words of a boy released in 2015, advocacy from NGOs 2017.483 However, bribery proved to be a less sustainable means and community leaders helped Rayia Mutomboki Commander of release than awareness-raising, with this boy reporting that Kalume “understand the risks he runs for using children” and he was still regularly threatened with re-recruitment by his finally decide to liberate his child soldiers.479 Children reported former comrades.

Arrest

Authorities arrested children in Rayia Mutomboki at the relatively low rate of 7%, with the majority of arrests occurring in 2015.

Arrests either occurred after a child had escaped of his own two weeks, where he was subjected to forced labor. Unable volition, e.g. the 17-year-old boy who was arrested by a FARDC to perform due to his injuries, the boy said his wounds were patrol hours after his escape. This boy was detained in Bukavu pummeled and he was put in an unventilated isolation cell, for two months before being handed over to MONUSCO Child where he almost suffocated. He also reported being deprived Protection.484 food and visits from his family members.485

Like FDLR FOCA, many children formerly associated with Arrest and detention also brought another 15-year-old-boy face- Rayia Mutomboki reported ill treatment during detention, often to-face with corruption that put his future in jeopardy. Injured passing through multiple detention centers. For instance, the and held FARDC custody, the boy reportedly paid 50,000CF FARDC captured one 15-year-old boy after he sustained serious (32USD) to one FARDC for an attestation de sortie – the release gunshot wounds to his face during battle. He was treated for certificate that protects children from arrest for association with two weeks at Bukavu Hospital and the FARDC military hospital, armed groups – only to have it ripped up later by other FARDC before being moved to a cell in T2 Sukola II in Bukavu for who demanded 30,000CF (19USD) for a replacement.486

Surrender

In 2014 and 2015, at the height of the Government demobilization campaign, 6% of children recruited by Rayia Mutomboki surrendered and were screened out at FARDC regrouping sites as their commanders opted to integrate into the FARDC. For example, five boys, ages 15, 16 and 17, surrendered along with Rayia Mutomboki [Colonel] Cent Kilos at the FARDC Mubambiro regrouping site in early January 2015.487

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 107 P. 108 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Rayia Mutomboki

Endnotes

382 122777, see also 122781 418 260793 455 260657

383 23298, 179670, 248060 see also 247147 419 134359, see also 106636, 225909, 247206 456 146182

384 180428 420 256871, 248106, 248066, 256828 457 249110

385 260788 421 164402 458 260643

386 237943, 154284 422 260793 459 158602

387 133669, 145974 see also 180790 423 218819 460 217838

388 260553 424 28310, see also 97485 461 147165, 147168, 147163, 147172

389 132840, see also 134532, 256939 425 159494 462 10654, 151549, see also 93429, 143758, 237481

390 260790 426 237502 463 158599

391 237504 427 260638 464 97503

392 260609 428 260497 465 139183

393 149095 429 260490 466 133669, see also 260490

394 146182 430 260791 467 143166

395 146011 431 256944, 248107 468 154284

396 248211, see also 260794 who acquiesced on pain of 432 106636, 121479, 133669, 138184 469 260651 death 433 120743, 257045 470 132840 397 181224, 260786 see also 237632 434 133672 471 146011 398 237481, 237510, 244133 see also 237924, 248667, 237580, 237595, 248584, 244137, 244139, 158599 435 248187 472 181224

399 158602, 256886 436 138309, 97503 473 106636. Note that cases of children escaping to MON- USCO occurred almost exclusively in 2014 and 2015, with 400 260785 437 139180 zero documented in 2017. This could have been influenced by base closures in 2017. 401 260501 438 168982 474 133669 402 260513 439 158601 475 133672 403 260510, 260513 440 249110 476 131197 404 237509, see also 237490, 151942 441 256911 477 248211, 256828 405 237917 442 257512 478 247147, 247206, 248107 see also 256019, 158600 406 163449 443 257508, see also 248675, 237487, 237483 479 158604 407 244725 444 131377, see also 132840, 145724, 248063 480 248060 408 257494, see also 249110 445 260659, 260343, 260505, see also 256921 481 154279, 260565 409 145965 446 256915, 248107 482 151950 410 180367 447 120738, 75083, 75084 483 260650 411 260642 448 145012 484 144636, 144678 412 256823 449 248063 485 171936 413 181211 450 171936 486 164402 414 260658 451 119589, 144562 487 117933, 119305, 119313, 121801, 123700, see also 144806, 452 415 180766 248224 207425 416 163449 453 260646

417 260510, 260513,163449, 248224 454 260790

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 109 IN-DEPTH PROFILE: MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

ITURI Eringiti !

Mayi Moya Semuliki ! Bridge ! Oicha ( ! Kamango Mbau ! Nobili ! Mamudioma ! Mavivi !

Pandekali ! Beni Mabangwa ( Lubena ! ! OICHA BENI Ntoyo ! Mutwanga ! Mundiba ! Biambwe !

Butembo ! Katwa ! Lukomo Vusa ! Kasindi Muhangi ! Musienene ! ! !

LUBERO Kyondo !

Ishango Lubero ! ! ( Masereka ! Karongo

Katandele ! Bilundule LAKE EDOUARD ! Bingi Kasinga ! ! ! Katundu UGANDA Kirumba ! Kisangani Luofu ! NORD-KIVU ! Vitshumbi Kanyabayonga ! Miriki ! ! Ishasha I Buleusa ! ! Rwindi ! Katanda ! Matoto ! Nyamilima Kibirizi ! ! Kyahala Mpeti ! Kisharu Pinga ! Kilima ! ! Kikuku ! ! Nyanzale ! Kashuga I ! Misoke Bumbi ! Mweso ! ! Kiwanja Mpoﬁ Bunyampuli ! ! ! Biruwe Tongo ( Rutshuru ! Kibua ! ! Kitchanga ! ! Kalengera Rubare WALIKALE ! Butare Kinyamahura Nyabiondo ! ! ! Kashebere ! ! Mwamvula Katale Lamata ! ! ! Bunagana Kanyatsi ! RUTSHURU Masisi ! ( Walikale Mihanga ! Rugari ( Ntoto ! Kirolirwe ! MASISI Kahundu ! Kibumba ! Kabati ! Osso! Mushake! NYIRANGONGO Bihambwe ! ! Sake Karuba ! ! Lushangi! RWANDA Bushi Mutiko ! ! ! Kirotshe! Monigi ! Matshumbi ! Mugunga ! Ngungu Mikolo ! Itebero ! .! Goma Nkuba UNITED NATIONS ! Child Recruitment by Hombo ! Mayi Mayi Mazembe from 2014 to 2017 LAKE KIVU ! Country Capital Major Road .! Province Capital International Boundary ( Territory Capital Province Boundary SUD-KIVU ! Relevant Sites Territory Boundary

Source: MONUSCO Child Protection, June 2018 Disclaimer: This product is conﬁdential and exclusive property of United Nations MONUSCO. It should neither be disseminated nor sold outside MONUSCO. This product is designed for MONUSCO operational requirements. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply o cial endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

Number of Children Recruited: < 50 50-100

100-200

200-300 300-400 400-500

500-750

750-1000 0 25 50 100 1000-2000 Kilometers

P. 110 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 TERRITORY MOTIVE North Kivu (Lubero, Rutshuru, Self-defense Walikale) ETHNICITY Nande, Kobo CHILDREN RECRUITED Total: 454 PRIMARY MEANS OF RECRUITMENT Trend: Increase Voluntary (47%); Forced (21%) Girls: 6% / Boys: 94% PRIMARY PUSH FACTORS AMONG VOLUNTEERS Abducted: 17% Revenge/Ethnic Defense (32%); Family & Peer Pressure (19%); Sexual Violence Among Girls: 66% Economic (12%) Under 15: 20% Combatants: 52% PRIMARY MEANS OF SEPARATION Re-Recruited: 1% Escape (62%); Arrest/Capture (9%)

Average

TRENDS IN CHILD RECRUITMENT BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE Girls Under 15 Combatants Abductions Total Children Recruited 250 250 TOTAL CHILDREN

UNDER 15

200 200 ABDUCTIONS

COMBATANTS

GIRLS 150 150

100 100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

50 50

20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017 0 BLUE, SEA GREEN, SLATE GRAY, BURNT ORANGE AND DEEP PURPLE

GIRLS UNDER 15 Mayi Mayi Mazembe is a TOTALweb ofCHILDREN localized groups primarily Territories in North Kivu. In 2017, many Mayi Mayi

of Nande and Kobo origin that gained prominenceRE-RECRUITED in late Mazembe-styleABDUCTIONS groups, particularly those operating in 2015 during attacks on the FDLR. The term ‘Mazembe’ – Lubero territory, shifted tactics, and increasingly began COMBATANTS COMBATANTS originally inspired by the successful Lubumbashi-based to target symbols of state authority, including the PNC football club – can be compared to a franchise and and FARDC, as well as schools. Like many local armed covers groups such as the Union des Patriotes pour la groups, Mazembe groups place particular importance on

Défense desTOTAL Innocents CHILDREN (UPDI). Originally established as GIRLStraditional ritualsUNDER and 15the use of ‘bulletproof’COMBATANTS medicine, Nande and Kobo Mayi Mayi self-defense groups fighting or dawa. RE-RECRUITED ABDUCTIONS the FDLR and other Hutu armed groups, the Mazembe coalition is active in Lubero, Walikale, and Rutshuru

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 111

250 VOLUNTARY

FORCED 200 UNKNOWN

VOLUNTARY FORCED UNKOWN 150

100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017 PART II: Mayi Mayi Mazembe

I. BEFORE:

CHILDREN RECRUITED 120120 BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE DEATH OF CHIEF HOW & WHY CHILDREN WERE RECRUITEDAbducted MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE BY100100 MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 80

Of all 60top perpetrators, Mayi Mayi Mazembe had the highest rate of volunteerism among children.4040 Almost half – 47% - of children in the group reported doing so of their own volition, NUMBER OF CHILDREN however20 these were exclusively boys.

0 MAY MAY JULY JULY IC JUNE JUNE AG APRIL APRIL NG M MARCH O AUGUST TR AUGUST JANUARY OCTOBER APRILMAYJUNEJULYAUGUSTSEPTEMBEROCTOBERNOVEMBERDECEMBERJANUARYFEBRUARYMARCHAPRILMAYJUNEJULYAUGUSTSEPTEMBERS OCTOBERNOVEMBERDECEMBEROCTOBER ION OF ETH

FEBRUARY T N DECEMBER A DECEMBER I NOVEMBER T NOVEMBER C SEPTEMBER PECSEPTEMBER LOY EX ALT Y & 2016 2017 MIC F S CONO EA % E R R 12 RE LE ESSU S O PR S ER F PE ENSE I T & DEF G Y IC H C IL HN T M T E A /E R A F E S G % N F 9 E 1 V E L R % 2 L 3

U S P

U P

AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 MAYI MAYI PERPETRATORS MAZEMBE 645 VOLUNTARY 47% = 645 VOLUNTARY FORCED

UNKNOWN 156 / 645

TARY LUN VO 3% = 0.2418604651162791 2

33%

UNKNOWN

HOW MAYI MAYI 182 / 645

= 0.2821705426356589

MAZEMBE

307 / 645

RECRUITED

N = 0.475968992248062

CHILDREN %

21% FORCED

Mayi Mayi MazemHOW- MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE bo RECRUITED CHILDREN

P. 112 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Push Factors: Why Children “Volunteered” to Join Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Revenge & Protection of Family or Community Community, Family & Peer Pressure

A third of all children volunteering to join Mayi Mayi Mazembe Given Mayi Mayi Mazembe’s roots in the Nande community, were propelled by the desire to protect their immediate families both boys and girls faced a significant amount of pressure from and the wider Nande and Kobo communities from Hutu-based peers, family members and community leaders to volunteer. groups like FDLR FOCA and Nyatura, particularly after the Notable recruiters included women, like [Colonel] Florence, the group became a cohesive coalition in 2016. mother of a 14-year-old boy whom she brought into the group in Butembo, Lubero Territory, North Kivu.497 In rare cases, children Children referred to the “tribal war between the Hutus and the already living in Mayi Mayi Mazembe camps were initiated and Nande” giving them no choice but to “defend the cause and my forced to fight, like the 16-year old boy was forcibly recruited community.”488 Children also spoke of “liberation of our people” by his father [General] Kitete Odama and deployed to Butole.498 from alleged “Rwandans,” “domination” and “occupation.”489 Older teenage boys reportedly goaded each other and Most frequently, however, children influenced other children volunteered together for the common cause, as reported one with the appeal of material items. The cache of military uniforms 15-year-old boy who decided to join a group of youth from his and expensive cell phones brandished by friends in the group neighborhood in reinforcing UPDI/Mazembe to “chase away lured more than one boy into the group because they “wanted the Rwandans,” when they heard of an impending FDLR FOCA to be equal to [their] friends.”499 One 13-year-old girl living with attack.490 her grandmother “immediately believed and was convinced by the [financial] promises made by her friend.”500 The motive of revenge was a far more personal motive than the ethno-nationalism of Nande self-defense and was particularly Survival Strategy: Economic Support strong in villages situated on the frontlines between the two groups, passing back and forth from one group’s control to the Linked to peer pressure was the basic need for food, school other. One 14-year-old boy lived in a village occupied by FDLR fees and employment. Twelve percent of child volunteers FOCA in February 2016, surviving beatings and the looting of for Mazembe cited economic reasons for joining the group, 501 his house. When Mayi Mayi Mazembe moved in that August, including the promise of 50-150USD salaries per month. the boy immediately joined to take revenge against the FDLR Recruiters used false promises of salaries and the hook of food FOCA for his mistreatment.491 Witnessing his father be beaten to recruit children in villages in Lubero Territory, sometimes 502 to death by FDLR FOCA infuriated another 15-year-old boy and giving children weed to smoke while considering the offer. gave him the “power to fight.”492 And a 14-year-old boy joined A 15-year-old girl joined after her neighbor, the wife of a Mayi 503 in a flash of fear and vengeance two weeks after seeing FDLR Mayi Mazembe captain, promised her a monthly salary. One FOCA torture, kill and mutilate the bodies of his two brothers.493 15-year-old boy volunteered the day that Mayi Mayi Mazembe arrived with meat. He explained that when he thought about his While FDLR FOCA was the principal enemy cited by boys family, he “found that they were very vulnerable and only tasted 504 volunteering for Mayi Mayi Mazembe, boys also spoke of meat on holidays or when my father sold his crops.” Other exacting vengeance on ADF following the 2015 massacres in children reported Mazembe frequently feeding children from Eringeti. In 2017, boys also referred to wanting to fight NDC- the neighboring villages in their camps and local chiefs sending 505 Rénové, as ethnic conflict with Hunde and Nyanga tribes food to children who joined. The children most vulnerable rose.494 Boys specifically cited brutal massacres as motivating to this line of argument were, predictably, those whose families 506 factors. One 14-year-old joined after his brother and friend were could not afford school fees. “slaughtered” by ADF. Another 15-year-old boy was the sole survivor among his family of an ADF massacre in Eringeti, Beni Survival Strategy: Physical Protection & Escape Punishment Territory, North Kivu. And a third boy, age 17, identified himself A less common reason children, mostly boys, joined was to as a “passionate” member of Mazembe who wanted to “save the protect themselves and escape responsibility, like the 12-year- Nande community” after watching FDLR FOCA and the ADF old boy who joined because he had lost 20USD and was commit massacres with machetes.495 afraid of being punished at home, or the 16-year-old boy who impregnated a girl and did not have the means to support Rarely was the impulse for revenge directed at State agents. her.507 In one unusual case, a 14-year-old boy was recruited by However, Virunga National Park did figure in some children’s a motorbike driver who predicted a general insurrection in the desire to protect their communities. For example, a 16-year-old DRC on 19 December 2016 ahead of the end of the presidential boy volunteered “because the ICCN guards killed the population term.508 living near the Park, like my family.”496

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Pull Factors: Why Mayi Mayi Mazembe Recruited Children

Strong Magic Expectation of Ethnic Loyalty & Fearless Fighters

Magic is central to Mayi Mayi Mazembe’s belief system and its Like its opponents, Mayi Mayi Mazembe saw the value in fighting prowess. Like NDC-Rénové, the group prized younger courageous child combatants. As one 16-year-old boy bragged, children for their magical powers, particularly their protective he was a favorite of his commander because of his “cold and healing abilities. One 13-year-old boy who volunteered in blood.”510 There appeared to be an understanding between 2016 said that the group needed more fétisheurs to maintain local Nande chiefs or notables and Mayi Mayi Mazembe their talisman or fetish. He was given the name of “kadogo commanders that Nande children were expected to fight for dawa” or “medicine child.”509 their communities. Local chiefs worked with commanders to conduct active recruitment campaigns, particularly after attacks by Nyatura or FDLR FOCA in 2017. For instance, a 16-year-old boy was recruited during a campaign led by two notables in Rutshuru after Nyatura attacked his village, burned down the school, abducted and killed teachers and students.511 He was not alone, as other older Nande boys reported being recruited for the express purpose of increasing Mayi Mayi Mazembe ranks after heavy losses in battle with Nyatura in 2017.512

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Trigger Violation: Abduction

Of armed groups in the East, Mayi Mayi Mazembe had one of the FDLR-FOCA model of pillage-porter-abduct,514 taking the lowest rates of child recruitment via abduction at 17% of children from villages, fields, while hunting in the bush or, like all children recruited by the group. However, each year since one 10-year-old boy, on the way home from school, burning his its coalition was formalized, the number of children abducted school uniform and notebooks for good measure.515 increased exponentially. In 2017, 30 children, including three girls, MAYI MAYIwere abducted,MAZEMBE double that in 2016 and 10 times that in 2015, Markets appeared to be a favorite site for child abductions, - ABDOUCTIONwhen children mostly volunteered to “protect” communities. with two 16-year-old boys abducted from a market and forced Methods of abduction also became cruder and bolder over the to collect taxes from all the stalls before being marched to the years, with one 17-year-old reporting that he was drugged and group’s camp. 516 With only one exception, all girls recruited by lost consciousness during his abduction that year, and a 16-year- the group were abducted from markets.517 The one exceptional old boy abducted while fishing in Lake Edward by Mayi Mayi case was of a girl abducted and forced to be a “guest” at a Mayi Mazembe patrolling by boat.513 Mayi Mazembe Independence Day party in Lubero Territory, IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF OF THE MILITIA’S North Kivu. At the party, she was drugged and systematically EXISTENCE, MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE When volunteers were not sufficient, Mayi Mayi Mazembe raped, before eventually receiving military training and being WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST 518 % OF RECRUITS THROUGH ABDUCTION CHILD RECRUITER IN THE strategically% UNDER used AGE abduction 15 to force children into its ranks: used as a sex slave. DRC SINCE 2014 AND THE NUMBER ONE RECRUITER 90% of all child abductions perpetrated by the group since OF CHILDREN IN 2017: 370 its inception were for the purpose of recruitment. Like other CHILDREN (58 GIRLS, 312 BOYS) AND 264 CHILDREN groups operating in North Kivu, Mayi Mayi Mazembe employed (25 GIRLS, 239 BOYS) WERE % OF RECRUITS THROUGH ABDUCTION RECRUITED BY THE MILITIA IN 2017 AND 2016, RESPECTIVELY. CHILD RECRUITMENT VIA ABDUCTION BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

100 TOTAL RECRUITS 90 % ABDUCTED 80 70 % 60 60

50 50

40 40

30 PERCENTAGE 30

20 20

10 10

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017

Re-Recruitment

Compared to more well-established armed groups, the recently his community paid a 70,00FC bribe.520 Despite low rates of emerged Mayi Mayi Mazembe had low rates of re-recruitment, actual re-recruitment, threats% ofOF re-recruitment RE-RECRUITS were apparentlyAGAINST TOTAL CHILDREN with just 1% of all children reporting being recruited more than credible enough to cause children to move far from their home once by the group. However, at least one boy passed through villages after escaping, in effect choosing to be displaced rather the revolving door of well-established groups, like Nyatura, in than risk re-recruitment.521

2012 and 2014, before Mayi Mayi Mazembe re-recruitedFIRST RECRUITMENT him FIRST RECRUITMENT in 2016.600519 Occasionally, boys reported voluntarily re-joining RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED the group500 while another was re-recruited several weeks

after making400 his escape and was ultimately released when 2014 2015 2016 2017

300

200

100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 3% 2% 7% 16% 2014 2015 2016 2017 RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 115

% COMBATANTS

100 % SUPPORT 90 % % COMBATANTS 80 80 70 70 60 60 50 50 40 40

30 PERCENTAGE 30 20 20 10 10 0 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017 PART II: Mayi Mayi Mazembe

II. DURING: AGE GENDER NATIONALITY IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A AGE GENDER NATIONALITY INHALF THE FIRSTOF THE YEAR MILITIA’S AND A HALFEXISTENCE, OF THE MAYI MILITIA’S MAYI EXISTENCE,MAZEMBE MAYI MAYI LIFE INSIDE MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE WAS THEMAZEMBE THIRD HIGHEST WASCHILD THE RECRUITER THIRD HIGHEST IN THE CHILDDRC SINCE RECRUITER 2014 AND IN THETHE 150 150 DRCNUMBER SINCE ONE 2014 RECRUITER AND THE SUPPORT ROLES OFNUMBER CHILDREN ONE INRECRUITER 2017: 370 Support OF CHILDREN IN 2017: 370 Combatants CHILDREN (58 GIRLS, 312 120 120 COMBATANTS BOYS)CHILDREN AND (58264 GIRLS, CHILDREN 312 (25BOYS) GIRLS, AND 239 264 BOYS) CHILDREN WERE (25RECRUITED GIRLS, 239 BY BOYS) THE MILITIA WERE THE PROFILE OF A CHILD RECRUITED BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FROM 2014-2017 RECRUITEDIN 2017 BY AND THE 2016, MILITIA 90 90 INRESPECTIVELY. 2017 AND 2016, RESPECTIVELY. 52% 60 60 OF CHILDREN USED IN MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE COMBATANT ROLES BY WASMAYI ONE MAYI OF MAZEMBE THE FEW MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE WASARMED ONE GROUPS OF THE30 FEWTO NUMBER OF CHILDREN 30 #1 ARMED GROUPS TO 20% 4% 2% #1RECRUIT WERE20% UNDER WERE4% GIRLS ARE FOREIGN2% BORN INCREASE WERE UNDER WERE GIRLS ARE FOREIGN BORN RECRUITER IN 15 YEARS OLD INCREASECHILD RECRUITMENT 15 YEARS OLD ER2017 IN CHILDSINCE RECRUITMENT 2014 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2017 SINCE 2014 WITH MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE AVERAGE % OF WITH370 CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD SUPPORT ROLES 370 FROM ALL TOP 2014 2015 2016 2017 CHILDRE MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 7 PERPETRATORS CHILDREN CHILD SUPPORT ROLES CHILD RECRUITMENT BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE NRECRUIT RECRUIT TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED ED BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL EDOF ALL CHILDREN 1500 TREND OF RECRUITMENT OFRECRUITED ALL CHILDREN IN THE BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE RECRUITED IN THE DRC ARE RECRUITED ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED DRCBY MAYI ARE MAYIRECRUITED 1200 IN THE DRC BYMAZEMBE MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 900

73% 600 OF GIRLS SURVIVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 IN MAYI MAYI NUMBER OF CHILDREN 3002014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE 0 IN MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE AGAINST GIRLS 2014 2015 2016 2017 FROM ALL TOP 7

FENSE C DE The Girls & Boys Recruited byH NMayiI Mayi Mazembe ET ECTION 5% E/ ROT NG F-P C OF CHILDREN E EL ONOMI Mayi Mayi Mazembe was one of only EtwoV top S perpetrators EC in the East to show an increase in child SURVIVE SEXUAL R 8% 0% URE % 1 4 ESS VIOLENCE IN MAYI 7 PR recruitment, in part owing to that fact that the MayiER Mayi Mazembe phenomenon only emerged in full MAYI MAZEMBE PE Y/ IL force in late 2015. M A F % 7 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 4 BOTH BOYSThis AND increase GIRLS IN MAYI may MAYI MAZEMBEin part be explained by the perceived Age ‘success’ of Mayi Mayi Mazembe/UPDI in forcing FDLR FOCA Compared to the top perpetrators, Mayi Mayi Mazembe out of Ikobo groupement in Walikale Territory, encouraging the ABDUCTED OVER TIME recruited the lowest levelsBY YEARof young children: 20% of all children expansion of ABDUCTEDNande-majority OVER “self-defense” TIME groups in 2016. BY YEAR recruited by the group were under age 15. Although very few Local chiefs, business operators and customary leaders backed girls were recruited by the group, those girls who were recruited this effort, thus facilitating the groups’ activities, including their were nearly twice as likely to be under age 15 than boys. recruitment of children. Adding to this crescendo in 2016 and 2017, Mayi Mayi Mazembe/UPDI also benefited from an alliance Gender with NDC-Rénové, however, this alliance fell apartCHILDREN around ABDUCTED July 80 BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 80 CHILDREN ABDUCTED 400 400 2017. 80 BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 80 MayiAbducted Mayi400 Mazembe400 had very low rates of girls documented as Zero 70 70 Abducted 350 350 Zero 70 350 350 Recruited 70 recruited, with just 6% of new recruits being girls. This is on Recruited 60 60 300 300 60 60 par with its300 opponents300 of FDLR FOCA and Nyatura and may 50 50 250 250 50 50 be related 250to the 250high levels of volunteerism and motivation of 40 40 200 200 40 40 ethnic self-defense200 200 and revenge, which are typically cited as 30 30 150 150 30 push factors by boys,150 not girls. 30 150 CHILDREN RECRUITED 20 20 100 100 BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN CHILDREN RECRUITED 20 20 100 100 BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN 10 10 50 50 10 10 50 50

0 2016 2017 0 2016 2017 0 2016 2017 0 2016 2017

2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017

P. 116 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017

NDC-Rénové

FRPI

Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Rayia Mutomboki

Kamuina Nsapu

Nyatura

FDLR FOCA PART II: Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Life for Children Inside Mayi Mayi Mazembe

AGE OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FROM 2014-2017 GENDER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FROM 2014-2017

100 100 100 100 90 90 90 90

80 80 80 80 70 70 70 70 60 60 60 60 % % 50 50 50 50 50 50 40 40 40 40 40 40 PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE

PERCENTAGE 30 30 PERCENTAGE 30 30 30 30 20 20 20 20 20 20 10 10 10 % 8 7 10 10 106 % 8 5 7 4 6 3 5 2 4 1 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 20142015 20152016 20162017 2017 2014 20142015 20152016 20162017 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 TOTAL CHILDREN2016 % UNDER2017 15 TOTAL CHILDREN % GIRLS TOTAL CHILDREN % UNDER 15 TOTAL CHILDREN % GIRLS

Initiation Rites & Daily Life

On arrival, children received a mixed welcome, with some Children’s daily lives inside the group were affected by changes beaten and others reporting they were “warmly welcomed.”522 to the overarching Mayi Mayi Mazembe coalition. While loyal Children also attempted to reassure each other, sometimes to their particular commander, such as the high-ranking as soon as they were abducted. One 16-year-old reported his commander Saperita, children were well aware that they child abductors “motivating” him on his march to their camp, belonged to the umbrella Mazembe coalition.530 One 14-year- telling him he had “high morale and a strong heart.”523 However, old fétisheur described the moment in 2016 when his group, many children were not protected from harsh punishment and Pareco, joined the coalition, emphasizing that even though abuse. A 13-year-old boy said that his commander forced him to they had changed their name to Mayi Mayi Mazembe, he kept work all day without a break and that he was whipped for “the his role as “docteur” charged with healing Mayi Mayi Mazembe smallest mistake.”524 elements.531

Children in Mayi Mayi Mazembe reported some of the more Role: Combatant elaborate initiation rites among armed groups in the East. Traditional ceremonies to bestow children with witchcraft could Among the top perpetrators in the East, children in Mayi Mayi last up to three days. One 15-year-old boy was abducted and Mazembe had the greatest likelihood of participating in combat. was welcomed to the camp by his older brother’s friend, who More than half – 52% - of all children recruited by Mayi Mayi gave him a traditional alcoholic drink after drink until the boy Mazembe reported fighting. This usually meant older boys but was drunk.525 Another boy, 13 years old, explained that he “felt some boys as young as 12-years-old also reported being used 532 outside the human world” after inhaling traditional medicine.526 to fight. Very occasionally, girls would fight, as in the case of a girl who joined Mayi Mayi Mazembe to avenge her rape by The trademark of Mayi Mayi Mazembe initiation was tattooing, FDLR FOCA combatants. The girl never learned to use a gun almost always on the same day a child was recruited. The tattoo, but fought FDLR FOCA and NDC-Rénové using a spear. When usually performed by a “Kadogo Dawa” or medicine child, was she informed her commander of her reasons for fighting the viewed as the most powerful protection a child could receive FDLR FOCA, and because of her obvious emotional distress, and, along with “mayi mayi” water, was believed to render its she was reportedly protected and not sexually abused by her 533 recipients bulletproof. Indeed, for some Kadogo Dawa, their commander or comrades. entire job was to tattoo new recruits. Former child combatants reported being tattooed multiple times for added protection.527 Child combatants made a quick transition from recruitment, As a 16-year-old girl recounted, “we were registered in a big through initiation, to active combat duty, with just three days to notebook by [Colonel] Kahasa. He called the Kadogo Dawa, two weeks of training before being sent to the frontlines to fight who ordained us with tattoos and gave us black gris gris FDLR FOCA, Nyatura, NDC-Rénové, and FARDC, including naval 534 powder, telling us to eat it so we could become bulletproof. So battles on Lake Edward. Mayi Mayi Mazembe fought with the we ate it and then drank the water he gave us.528 In rare cases, standard weapons favored by other armed groups, like AK-47s, senior commanders initiated children, as was a 13-year-old boy submachine guns (SMG), Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) and who was personally tattooed and trained by the coalition’s PK machine guns (PKM), but children also used decidedly less commander Busho Kitete.529 technologically advanced weapons like stones, bows and arrows,

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 117 MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE - ABDOUCTION

IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF OF THE MILITIA’S EXISTENCE, MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST % OF RECRUITS THROUGH ABDUCTION CHILD RECRUITER IN THE % UNDER AGE 15 DRC SINCE 2014 AND THE NUMBER ONE RECRUITER OF CHILDREN IN 2017: 370 CHILDREN (58 GIRLS, 312 BOYS) AND 264 CHILDREN (25 GIRLS, 239 BOYS) WERE % OF RECRUITS THROUGH ABDUCTION RECRUITED BY THE MILITIA IN 2017 AND 2016, RESPECTIVELY.

100 TOTAL RECRUITS 90 % ABDUCTED 80 70 % 60 60

50 50

40 40

30 PERCENTAGE 30

20 20

10 10

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017

% OF RE-RECRUITS AGAINST TOTAL CHILDREN

FIRST RECRUITMENT FIRST RECRUITMENT 600 RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED 500

400 2014 2015 2016 2017

300

200

100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 3% 2% 7% 16% 2014 2015 2016 2017 RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED

PART II: Mayi Mayi Mazembe

% COMBATANTS

CHILDREN’S ROLES IN MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE FROM 2014-2017 CHILDREN’S ROLES IN MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE OVER TIME

150 150 SUPPORT ROLES Support

Combatants 120 120 COMBATANTS 100 % SUPPORT 90 90 90 % % COMBATANTS 52% 80 80 6070 60 70 OF CHILDREN USED IN COMBATANT ROLES BY 60 60 MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 3050 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 30 50 40 40

30 PERCENTAGE 30 200 20 2014 2015 2016 2017 10 10 MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE AVERAGE % OF CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD SUPPORT ROLES FROM ALL TOP 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 7 PERPETRATORS 2014 2015 2016 2017 CHILD SUPPORT ROLES

2014 2015 2016 2017 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL 1500 TREND OF RECRUITMENT BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED spears and machetes, with one child reportedly armed with fruit Role:1200 Support IN THE DRC (pears).535 Some children held dual roles, like combatant and The other half of children recruited by Mayi Mayi Mazembe prison guard, while others advanced up the chain of command 900 – those in support roles – still received tattoos and military like the 17-year-old boy abducted into the group in 2017 who 73% training,600 despite not fighting, suggesting that the group held the rank of corporalOF GIRLS in chargeSURVIVE of his division by the time would use all children to fight if necessary.543 The standard 536 SEXUAL VIOLENCE

he escaped. NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN MAYI MAYI roles300 included escort, cook, food/wood supplier, tax collector, spy, looter, assassin544 , military police and bodyguard for Children described participating in operations that went commanders2014 or their wives.2015 545 Organized2016 criminal activities2017 also beyond the standard battles with opposing armed groups or SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF figured in children’s roles, like the 15-year-old boy who served as the FARDC, includingAGAINST attacking GIRLS prisonsSEXUAL to VIOLENCEabduct and recruit 0 IN MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE AGAINST GIRLS a tax collector2014 who was2015 well aware that2016 the money2017 he collected the prisoners. One 15-year-old boy describedFROM ALL TOP 7taking part in went to fund weapons and ammunition purchases.546 Girls were such an attack three days after the group abducted him. On predominantly used for dual purposes, as both domestics and the night of 18 June 2017, he and more than 40 other Mayi Mayi 547 NSE “wives” of commanders. DE FE Mazembe combatants attacked Beni Central Prison, bringing NIC TH /E ECTION the prisoners to a designated5% meeting spot in the bush, where E ROT NG F-P C OF CHILDREN By far theE mostEL prestigiousONOM supportI role children played was they picked from among the prisoners those to force to join EV S EC SURVIVE SEXUAL one Rof Kadogo8% Dawa0% or medicineURE child. Only virgin boys, usually 537 % 1 4 ESS the group and bringVIOLENCE to their INheadquarters. MAYI Other children 7 PR ER MAYI MAZEMBE ages 10-14, playP Ethis role. Once they lost their virginity, the boys described being forced to take part in atrocities, like the 15-year- Y/ IL 548 became combatants.M The role was prominent enough that a old boy who volunteered in 2016, who took part in “a terrible A sort of apprenticeship F system made newer recruits the assistant % massacre of Hutus” and, when he returned from the front, lost 7 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST to the4 “grand fétisheur,” carrying the witch doctor’s amulets to his motivation.538 NewBOTH child BOYS ANDrecruits GIRLS IN reported MAYI MAYI MAZEMBEbeing blindfolded the frontlines.549 Child fétisheurs were proud of and believed on the march to the front to keep them from running away and in the magic they wielded, as was a 14-year-old who “gave one boy was ordered to kill his own uncle, although he managed fighters the power of victory.”550 Not all fétisheurs wanted to to inform his uncle and save his life.539 stay fétisheurs, however. One 12-year-old boy was taught how to prepare traditional medicine and was anointed a Kadogo The emotional impact of participating in such brutal combat Dawa “because [he] was the smallest.” As a medicine child, operations was clearly visible in children’s testimony. One he was forbidden from fighting but when his uncle died on the 16-year-old boy spoke of his “bad memories of innocent people frontlines, he became furious and decided to lose his virginity dying,” including two 14-year-old girls killed during a battle with “to destroy the power of gris gris so I would no longer be a Rayia Mutomboki.540 Another 16-year-old said he “continues to Kadogo Dawa, but rather a fighter.”551 regret killing innocents on orders.”541 A third boy had blocked out the memory of specific battles but recognized that Mayi Mayi Mazembe “had killed civilians they found after Nyatura had fled,” and submitted to orders to kill a person and to loot his own village. This particular boy reported being “overwhelmed by fighting,” could not sleep or eat and lost weight because of the mental distress of what he had seen and been forced to do.542

P. 118 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILDNDC-Rénové RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017

FRPI

Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Rayia Mutomboki

Kamuina Nsapu

Nyatura

FDLR FOCA PART II: Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Violations Triggered by Child Recruitment: The Risks Children Faced in Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Sexual Violence Killing & Maiming

Rates of sexual violence among girls recruited by Mayi Mayi Like Kamuina Nsapu, Mayi Mayi Mazembe’s high rate of child Mazembe, while relatively low compared to other armed combatants put children at elevated risk of being killed or groups in the East, still affected 66% of all girls associated with maimed on the battlefield. Two 17-year-old boys fought with the group. Lower-level commanders took girls as concubines approximately 100 other Mayi Mayi Mazembe combatants or “wives.”552 When a commander took multiple “wives,” the against FDLR FOCA and watched ten children killed during one youngest girl was frequently at elevated risk of abuse from both battle in Biriko in 2015.555 Another boy, age 16, was given a stone her “husband” and his older wives. For example, a 13-year-old girl five days after being abducted and ordered to join an attack was taken as a concubine of her commander’s escort until she on FARDC in Mulo, Lubero Territory, North Kivu. Not finding caught the commander’s eye and became his “girlfriend.” When FARDC, they attacked a nearby MONUSCO base, where the the commander’s “wife” learned of her husband’s faithlessness, boy was “forced to enter the MONUSCO base to fight.” Shot in the older wife threatened to kill the girl, prompting the girl to both legs, he fell into a ravine and spent the night hiding from escape.553 heavy fire. In the early morning, the boy was shot a third time. When the smoke cleared, MONUSCO troops found the boy Notably, some senior Mayi Mayi Mazembe commanders forbade and medevaced him to Goma for medical treatment.556 Other sexual slavery among their elements. As one 16-year-old girl times, severe maiming came not through battle but through testified, she was nominally used as a laundress but “secretly punishment doled out by commanders, as was the case for a became [a combatant’s] wife because [Colonel] Saperita would 15-year-old boy and his comrades who left for the frontlines have refused sexual slavery among the combatants in his without their commander’s authorization. Caught red-handed, camp.”554 the boys were “punished and whipped without pity.”557

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS RECRUITED BY MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE

15 15 All Girls

Girl Survivors of Sexual Violences 12 12

9 9

6 6

NUMBER OF CHILDREN 3 3

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

GIRL SURVIVORS OF ALL GIRLS RECRUITED BY SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 2014 MAYI MAYI2015 MAZEMBE 2016 2017

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 119 67% 8% 9% 13%

Released

Arrested

Escaped

67% 8% 9% 13%

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED 250 ABDUCTED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED Released 200 TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED TOTAL NUMBER OF Arrested 250 CHILDREN RECRUITED TREND LINE 150 200 Escaped 150 100 100

2% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50 RELEASED 50 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 250 ABDUCTED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED 3% 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 200 OTHERTOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED TOTAL NUMBER OF 250 CHILDREN RECRUITED TREND LINE 150 200 Other 150 100 Released 100

2% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 50 RELEASED Arrested 50 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 Escaped2017 2014 2015 2016 2017

3% 0 OTHER 2014 2015 2016 2017 600 TOTAL CHILDREN 500 ESCAPED SEPARATED TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 500 RECRUITED 400 ARRESTED Other 400 Other Released Released 300 300 Arrested Escaped 200 Arrested 200 100 Other

Escaped NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100 Surrendered 2014 2015 2016 2017 500 600 TOTAL CHILDREN ESCAPED SEPARATED Released TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 500 2014 2015 2016RECRUITED 2017 400 ARRESTED Arrested 400 Other Escaped Released 300 PART II: Mayi Mayi Mazembe300 Arrested AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 MAYI MAYI Escaped 200 PERPETRATORS MAZEMBE 200 62% ESCAPED 100 Other ESCAPED ARRESTED NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100 III. AFTER: Surrendered 17% RELEASED 2014 2015 2016 2017 UNDETERMINED % 0.40 SURRENDERED 0.35 Released ER 0.30 TH 2014 2015 2016 2017 O UNDETERMINED 22% % 3 HOW CHILDREN0.25 WERE SEPARATED

OF CHILDREN0.20 IN D Arrested E R 0.15 E MAYI MAYI D N HOW 0.10 E R FROM MAYI MAYIMAZEMBE MAZEMBE R 0.05 U S

Escaped 6 % CHILDREN 0.00 3 7

2014 2015 2016 2017 %

AVERAGE

LEFT A

D P

AMONG TOP 7 MAYI MAYI E

S D

PERPETRATORS MAZEMBE A

E MAYI MAYI

ESCAPED %

62% MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 6% D

E MAZEMBE

ESCAPED SURRENDERED T

ARRESTED R

AVERAGE OF A

600

ALL PERPETRATORS

RELEASED 17% 500 2% UNDETERMINED RELEASED SURRENDERED 400 ER TH O UNDETERMINED9% 22% % 3 ARRESTED KAMUINA 300

NSAPU OF CHILDREN IN D E R E MAYI MAYI D N HOW 200 E R MAZEMBE R U

% CHILDREN 1006

3 7

NUMBER OF CHILDREN %

LEFT A

D 0

E 2014 2015 2016 2017

E MAYI MAYI

MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 6% SOUGHT D

E MAZEMBE

SURRENDERED T MONUSCO BASE

AVERAGE OF A

ALL PERPETRATORS

OTHER

2% 4% RELEASED OF CHILDREN IN MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 9% ESCAPED TO MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE ARRESTED MONSUCO BASES AVERAGE OF TOP 7 PERPETRATORS

HOW CHILDREN LEFT MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE OVER TIME

200 200 4% Surrendered OF CHILDREN IN Released MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE 150 150 Arrested ESCAPED TO MAYI MAYI MAZEMBE MONSUCO BASES Escaped AVERAGE OF TOP 7 PERPETRATORS

100 100

50 50

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014ESCAPED 2015ARRESTED 2016RELEASED SURRENDERED2017

Escape

Two in three children recruited by Mayi Mayi Mazembe (62%) escaped. It was by far the most common, albeit dangerous, way to leave the group.

Why Children Escaped Mayi Mayi Mazembe physical health but could not sleep from the memories of what 560 Fleeing Mayi Mayi Mazembe was, in part, a way to flee the he had done on his commander’s orders. For another of their despair that came with life in the group. As one 14-year-old boy comrades, age 15, participating in a “terrible massacre of Hutus” 561 put it, “there was more suffering than happiness in the bush,” sapped all his motivation to fight and spurred his escape. and a 12-year-old boy called it the “most punishing place.”558 A 16-year-old boy escaped when he “became tired of seeing Harsh living conditions in the bush – sleep deprivation, hunger, dead bodies, tired of seeing blood.”559 Another boy fled in good inability to wash their bodies or clothes, trekking long distances,

P. 120 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Mayi Mayi Mazembe

at the mercy of insects, and the risk of whipping for the smallest the chance for one 15-year-old boy who snuck away during the errors562 – also pushed children to escape. One 16-year-old girl party while the combatants and commanders were drunk.576 who was abducted and used as a sex slave risked death threats to escape because, “the suffering was beyond what I could When Mayi Mayi Mazembe factions surrendered to or integrated tolerate.”563 into one another, children also seized the opportunity to escape, like the 15-year-old boy who escaped when his faction “was Children also fled the very real risk of dying on the battlefield.564 disarmed by [Mayi Mayi Mazembe commander] Kitete because A 16-year-old combatant fled when the group was surrounded we operated outside his orders.”577 and he felt his only options were to be killed by NDC-Rénové on the one side or FARDC on the other side.565 The loss of Assistance came from other children, both inside and outside friends also pushed children to escape, like a 16-year-old boy Mayi Mayi Mazembe, usually former child soldiers who directed who fled in July 2016 after watching two friends cut down on escaping children to the same child protection NGO from the frontline.566 A third boy escaped when his unit ran out of which they themselves had received support.578 For instance, ammunition and he feared being overrun.567 one 15-year-old boy escaped the daily attacks on his camp and was driven to a child protection NGO by a friend from his Those children who were protected by their commanders village.579 Another 13-year-old boy, recruited by his grandfather became extremely vulnerable when that commander died. and initiated by his brother, escaped with the help of this same Faced with the daunting task of going it alone in the group and brother.580 currying another commander’s favor, some children chose to escape, like the 17-year-old boy who fled when his commander Trusted adults also played the critical roles in helping children was assassinated and no other commanders would accept escape. When a 16-year-old boy was sent in the market to him.568 collect taxes from the vendors, he called a Catholic Priest who he considered to be his “spiritual father.” The Priest sent a Mayi Mayi Mazembe’s harsh punitive system – underground cells motorcyclist to pick him up from the market and bring him to where prisoners were subjected to severe ill treatment – also the safety of the Church compound.581 became a reason for children to flee the group. One 16-year- old boy landed in a cell for skipping one night of guard duty. Children were not always successful on their first attempt, Subjected to mistreatment in the cell, the boy escaped two days landing them in the underground cells where they were severely after finally being freed.569 Another 17-year-old boy was the punished.582 Commanders were wise to children’s attempts and prison guard of one such underground cell. When one of the kept a close eye on them. For instance, a 15-year-old fétisheur- abductees held there escaped, the boy fled too, terrified of the turned-combatant asked for authorization to visit his family in punishment he would receive.570 Katrisa, hoping to escape. Instead, [then-Colonel] Kitete himself accompanied the boy to his maternal uncle’s house and forced Some child volunteers left the group when their mission – in him to return to their base.583 Another boy, age 15, was luckier: the words of one 15-year-old boy, to “defeat the Rwandan his commander believed his lie that his sister was dying and rebels” – was accomplished.571 However, with such a high rate authorized him to visit her without a minder.584 of volunteerism, Mayi Mayi Mazembe struggled to live up to the expectations of its adherents and children disillusioned with Where children escaped to its false promises eventually escaped. A 17-year-old boy left the group after being swiftly disabused of his impression that Escaping children were well aware of the risks outside the “military life would be a holiday.”572 His younger comrade, age group, including of arrest by FARDC, punishment by their 585 14, was “tricked” into volunteering with a promise of a 100 USD furious commanders or retribution from FDLR FOCA. Almost salary but fled when he realized he would never be paid.573 as a rule, children first escaped home and then to CTOs on the suggestion of their parents, who also feared retribution, including from neighbors who quickly identified escaped How Children Escaped from Mayi Mayi Mazembe children.586 Given the risk of harsh punishment if they were intercepted, escaping children chose their moments carefully. Most fled MONUSCO played a role in the escapes of 4% of all children under the cover of darkness, during clashes with FARDC or after recruited by Mayi Mayi Mazembe, again all boys. For instance, hearing rumors of impending FARDC attacks, during clashes a 16-year-old boy abducted into Mayi Mayi Mazembe escaped with other armed groups like FDLR FOCA, or when camps were and walked for two days to reach MONUSCO in Butembo, still relatively empty or commanders distracted.574 One 17-year-old wearing his military uniform and carrying a machete.587 While boy fled when his commander left to ambush NGO vehicles, a this figure is lower than FDLR FOCA and Nyatura for instance, 15-year-old girl escaped when she was sent to buy medicine this may be due to the more diffuse presence of MONUSCO in for another girl suffering from gunshot wounds, and the pair Lubero Territory and the drawdown of COBs in 2016 and 2017, of boys who fled when sent to repair their commander’s boot when most children escaped from Mayi Mayi Mazembe. and top up his cell phone credit.575 New Year’s Eve 2017 was

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 121 PART II: Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Arrest & Capture

Similar to children associated with FDLR FOCA and FRPI, 9% fled directly to his family in early August 2017. Two weeks of children recruited by Mayi Mayi Mazembe were arrested or later, after being denounced by community members, he was captured by FARDC. Most often, this followed a child’s initial arrested by ANR and FARDC.588 escape to his/her home village, like the 15-year-old boy who

Surrender & Demobilization

In rare cases – just 6% - children recruited by Mayi Mayi commander was medevaced to the ICRC hospital in Goma for Mazembe surrendered to or were separated by international treatment, the girl accompanied him to look after him. When organizations. Rates among girls were higher, with 22% of all the commander died in hospital, it was determined that his girls recruited ultimately surrendering. This was the case for “wife” was in fact a child and the girl was separated and brought a 16-year-old “wife” whose “husband” was wounded during to a CTO.589 a clash between Mayi Mayi Mazembe and FARDC. When the

Release

Commanders released just 2% of all children recruited by Mayi Mayi Mazembe. This unlikely scenario occurred only when a child was a favorite of a commander – like the 17-year-old bodyguard of a colonel’s wife – or when family members negotiated for children’s release.590 Unlike Nyatura, Rayia Mutomboki or NDC- Rénové, Mayi Mayi Mazembe only rarely accepted ransoms or bribes in exchange for releasing children, although the parents of a sick 14-year-old boy managed to negotiate his release for 50,000CF (31USD) and two goats.591

P. 122 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Endnotes

488 238491, see also 220031 524 238475 561 237336

489 204872, 237293, 203299, 237225, see also 205189, 525 261334 562 256310, 251210, 238475, 237318 220030, 220746, 237447, 260506 526 237291 563 260502 490 237336 527 261332, 270262, 237335 564 220029, 236606 491 256512 528 270263 565 256608 492 238493, see also 249590, 249591, 248646, 251210, 225140 529 247791 566 220030, see also 243845, 236606

493 248609 530 225150 567 249691

494 249534, 237437, 249715 531 267500 568 238491, see also 260498

495 272430, 257001, 272484 532 246571 569 248660

496 236610 533 272590 570 247746

497 226650, 248330 534 237293, 236610, 261337, 261334, 264441 571 237293

498 247216 535 238096, 203271 572 237449

499 237285, see also 205181, 226644, 256310 536 267816, 268180 573 260184

500 236602 537 248335 574 256310, 249534, 206895

501 220029, see also 260184, 268184, 268927 538 237336 575 220046, 271640, 249590, see also 249696 while buying his commander phone credit 502 268877 539 270730, 272758 576 261334 503 237304, see also 248651 540 238096 577 237447 504 256413, see also 256523 541 260511 578 220029 505 256534 542 256792 579 248646, see also 249691 506 206895, 237291 543 260594 580 260512 507 225167, 237431 544 246374, 243846 581 268604 508 225150 545 247585 582 256523, 261334 509 256409 546 248646 583 264441 510 237332 547 236602, 237298 584 260506, see also 249534 511 256530, 256531, 256538 548 264441 585 237293 512 260500 549 237291, see also 256818 586 237332, 238490 513 270730, 268180 550 267500 587 264434 514 236606, 237283, 249696, 238475 551 264441 588 247859, see also 247928 515 267467 552 237304 589 245738, 257418 516 268604 553 248651 590 243846, 251210, see also 260514 517 247650 554 260593 591 248607, see also 256403 518 270237, 270260 555 247729 see also 238084

519 221266 556 251107, see also 246371

520 209499, 259187 557 237437

521 237291, 249588 558 256512, 238485

522 256403 559 237332

523 237283 560 256792

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 123 IN-DEPTH PROFILE:

Baku FORCES DE RÉSISTANCE! PATRIOTIQUEARU Golu !

EN ITURI (FRPI) Berunda ! Rwe ! Okere Duvire MAHAGI Makoﬁ ! ! Luga ! Imbi !

Mandefu Gabu ! Nioka !

Dhera ! Musaba Jimbu ! ! Dhedya Sake ! ! Kiloba ! Loradu Mayala ! ! Tembo ! Kana Gbadza ! ! Fataki Gosenge Andisa ! ! ! ! Kapiteni Mongbwalu Loinga ! ! ! Kanga Djugu ( Mabanga ! DJUGU

Kilo !

Nizi Drodro Kirongozi ! ! ! Blukwa ! Lubonza !

Labo !

Bunia .!

Denge ! Irumu ( Tchomia Marabu ! !

Bogoro ! Kasenyi Komanda ! ! Lolwa ! LAKE ALBERT

IRUMU Gety Matete Aveba ! ! !

Idohu ! Bohuma Bukiringui ! !

Boga ! UGANDA

Tshabi ! UNITED NATIONS Child Recruitment by FRPI from Eringiti 2014 to 2017 ! ! Country Capital Major Road ! Province Capital International Boundary Mayi Moya . ! Territory Capital Province Boundary Semuliki ( ! Bridge Relevant Sites Territory Boundary ! Source: MONUSCO Child Protection, June 2018 Disclaimer: This product is conﬁdential and exclusive property Oicha of United Nations MONUSCO. It should neither be disseminated nor sold outside MONUSCO. This product is designed for MONUSCO ( operational requirements. The boundaries and names shown Mamudioma and the designations used on this map do not imply o cial ! Kamango endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Mbau ! ! Nobili ! Number of Children Recruited: < 50 50-100

100-200

200-300 300-400 400-500

500-750

750-1000 0 12.5 25 50 1000-2000 Kilometers P. 124 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 TERRITORY MOTIVE Ituri (Irumu) Origins in the 2002 Ituri war and community self-defense; Opposition to the Government

CHILDREN RECRUITED ETHNICITY Total: 303 Ngiti Trend: Decrease PRIMARY MEANS OF RECRUITMENT Girls: 27% / Boys: 73% Forced (44%); Voluntary (35%) Abducted: 39% Sexual Violence against Girls: 93% PRIMARY PUSH FACTORS AMONG VOLUNTEERS Under 15: 35% Economic (42%); Family & Peer Pressure (39%); Combatants: 37% Self-Protection (24%) Re-Recruited: 3% PRIMARY MEANS OF SEPARATION Escape (62%); Release (22%); Arrest/Capture (9%) Average

TRENDS IN CHILD RECRUITMENT BY FRPI Girls Under 15 Combatants Abductions Total Children Recruited 120120 TOTAL CHILDREN UNDER 15 100 100 ABDUCTIONS COMBATANTS

GIRLS 8080

6060 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 4040

2020

20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017

The0 Forces de Résistance Patriotique en Ituri (FRPI) Today, the political objectives of the group have fallen BLUE, SEA GREEN, SLATE GRAY, BURNT ORANGE AND DEEPwas PURPLE created in November 2002 and was initially by the wayside and FRPI elements engage primarily in commanded by Germain Katanga until he was arrested looting, ambushes, illegal taxation and other criminality.

GIRLS UNDER 15 and transferred to the InternationalTOTAL CHILDREN Criminal Court (ICC) The group retains some influence at mining sites, but

on 17 October 2007. In May 2010, Justin BanalokiRE-RECRUITED alias thisABDUCTIONS has waned over recent years. In November 2014, Cobra Matata became the FRPI leader after deserting FRPI began negotiations with the Government of the COMBATANTS COMBATANTS from FARDC until his arrest in Bunia on 2 January 2015. DRC concerning their surrender, but these failed due The group, which operates in South Irumu Territory, to disputes over conditions of amnesty, and integration particularly the Walendu-Bindi collectivity, Ituri Province into security forces. With MONUSCO’s support, the

is currently TOTALled by CHILDREN Mbadu Adirodu. After a relative five- GIRLSGovernment of theUNDER DRC 15 re-engagedCOMBATANTS with FRPI in 2018. year lull in activities between 2003 and 2008, coinciding However, exactions against civilians continue in FRPI- RE-RECRUITED ABDUCTIONS with the partial integration of the group into the FARDC, influenced areas. FRPI resumed activities at the end of 2008 and continues to pose a persistent threat to civilian security, primarily through criminal actions, and attacks against state security forces.

VOLUNTARY 120 “OUR120 STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 125 FORCED 100 100 UNKNOWN

80 80 VOLUNTARY FORCED UNKOWN

60 60

40 40 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 20

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017 81% 20% OF GIRLS OF BOYS WERE ABDUCTED WERE ABDUCTED

RECRUITMENT VIA ABDUCTION RECRUITMENT VIA OTHER MEANS

PART II: FRPI

BEFORE: 81% 20% OF GIRLS OF BOYS 81% 20% WERE ABDUCTED WERE ABDUCTED OF GIRLS OF BOYS HOW & WHY CHILDREN WEREWERE ABDUCTED WERE ABDUCTED RECRUITED BY FRPI RECRUITMENT VIA ABDUCTION RECRUITMENT VIA OTHER MEANS

RECRUITMENT VIA ABDUCTION RECRUITMENT VIA OTHER MEANS FRPI had the second highest rate of child volunteers in the East, after Mayi Mayi Mazembe, with 35% of all children recruited doing so voluntarily. GIRLS BOYS It is critical to note that not only did the overall number HOW GIRLS WERE RECRUITED BY FRPI TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED of volunteers decrease from 2014 to 2017, but there was 100 100100

also a remarkable gender divide among children who VOLUNTARY 80 VOLUNTARY 80 voluntarily joined FRPI. The rates of voluntary versus FORCED forced recruitment among girls and boys displayed FORCED 60 60 opposite trends. The majority of boys were voluntary

recruited and the majority of girls were forced. 40 40 PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE

20 20 GIRLS BOYS 2014 2015 2016 2017 GIRLS 2014 BOYS2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED 100 0 100100 HOW BOYS 2014WERE RECRUITED2015 BY FRPI2016 2017 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED VOLUNTARY 100 100 80 100 VOLUNTARY 80 FORCED FORCED VOLUNTARY 80 VOLUNTARY 80 60 60 FORCED 60 MFORCEDA IZE AND NPOWER ILD S 60 BU NTELLIGENCE 40 60 40 HER I GAT PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE SEX 40 20 40 20

PERCENTAGE S PERCENTAGE ECTION R ROT F-P 20 O EL SSURE 20 S PRE T % ER 2014 2015 2016 2017 4 PE OMIC 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 2 & CON C Y E IL 2% A M 4 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015A 2016 2017 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 F F % 2014 2015 2016 2017 9 3 0 L 2014 2015 2016 2017 AVERAGE L AMONG TOP 7 PERPETRATORS FRPI U 35% VOLUNTARY P VOLUNTARY S FORCED

R UNKNOWN

RY O TA LUN VO 3% 2

T 20%

UNKNOWN

C HOW

F FRPI

H O

RECRUITED R

C E

S D

N AVERAGE

U CHILDREN

N AMONG TOP 7 K

P N PERPETRATORS FRPI U

AVERAGE

VOLUNTARY

AMONG TOP 7

35% PERPETRATORS FRPI VOLUNTARY FORCED 35% VOLUNTARY VOLUNTARY UNKNOWN44% FORCED FORCED TARY LUN VO 3% UNKNOWN 2

20%

UNKNOWN

TARY UN OL V 3% 2

HOW 20%

UNKNOWN

FRPI

HOW 4

O RECRUITED R

FRPI C E

F W CHILDREN

O O

RECRUITED R

CHILDREN

44% FORCED 44% FORCED FRPIP. 126 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: FRPI

Push Factors: Why Children Volunteered to Join FRPI

A Part-Time Job mired in poverty and living with extended family after parents’ 600 FRPI is deeply embedded in the community, which resulted deaths, to volunteer. in a child recruitment pattern characterized by a casual, easy- come-easy-go familiarity that made membership in the group While predominantly a male pattern, girls also occasionally akin to a part-time job. For example, one 14-year-old was the volunteered for FRPI for economic reasons. This reasoning son of FRPI parents who were killed fighting the FARDC. The drove a 16-year-old girl to join when she went to FRPI position boy grew up in the bush before returning to Aveluma to live at Nyaigo to sell alcohol. The “wealthy life” of the FRPI elements with his grandmother and attend school. However, from time she saw there, eating meat and other looted items, appealed to to time, he would visit FRPI positions surrounding Aveluma, the girl and she decided to marry one of the FRPI elements she 601 eventually deciding to leave school and to join his parents’ met there. cause in November 2015.592 Family & Peer Pressure Casual familiarity with FRPI was a slippery slope that quickly led Given the inter-mingling of FRPI and the community, the children from visiting FRPI camps for dinner, running errands influence of family members and friends in FRPI was a powerful for family members or serving drinks to FRPI elements at the push factor for boys. One 14-year-old boy said he was “inspired” local bar to joining themselves.593 For instance, a 14-year-old by neighborhood friends who were already part of FRPI, and an boy frequently visited his father, a FRPI lieutenant, in the forest, 11-year-old boy was recruited by an older friend, who ultimately cooking and laundering clothes for him. When his father died in became his commander.602 2015, the boy chose to stay in the forest with the FRPI.594 Adults’ habits of revolving in and out of FRPI for several months or years Watching both direct and extended family members rotate in also lured children brought in alongside them. For instance, a and out of FRPI subtly influenced boys, normalizing the practice 13-year-old boy joined FRPI at his uncle’s advice but, a month and minimizing the commitment such a decision required. later, when his uncle left for his village he left the child with the Rather than active recruitment, such decisions took on a more combatants, among whom was the boy’s older brother.595 circumstantial flavor. For instance, the 16-year-old boy who went to visit his uncle at FRPI barracks and did not want to Survival Strategy: Economic Support return home, or the 14-year-old boy who followed his godfather 603 The strongest predictor of whether or not a boy would volunteer back to a FRPI camp. This fluidity was clear in the case of a for FRPI was his economic situation at home, particularly 13-year-old boy who grew up in the bush with his father, a FRPI whether or not his parents could afford to pay his school fees: element. When the boy’s mother became sick, the boy went to 42% of all children volunteering for FRPI cited this reason for live with his maternal aunt, although he would still visit FRPI in their decisions. Indeed, boys who do not have the means to the bush before returning home. Eventually, he chose to join the 604 attend school viewed FRPI as a viable alternative “career.”596 group full time until his father was killed by FARDC. Hunger was also a predictor of volunteerism, with numerous boys joining because they were “looking for meat.”597 Like other While FRPI operated in family structures, its fluidity and armed groups, FRPI recruiters played on the vulnerability of an intermingling with communities meant that children were born empty stomach, with one 13-year-old boy joining after militants frequently to FRPI parents but not in FRPI camps, as was the – including his older brother – visited his family and told the boy case in FDLR FOCA. Children rarely reported being born in and that they ate “a lot of meat in the bush.”598 spending their whole lives in FRPI, but there were exceptions, like the 14-year-old boy who spent his whole childhood in FRPI Frequently, poverty combined with family strife or parental camps with his parents, eventually formally enrolling to avoid 605 death created a powerful push factor for boys. This was the case his stepfather’s abuse. for a 15-year-old orphan whose father’s death forced him to drop out of school. When he could not support himself farming, the boy, encouraged by his friends, volunteered to join FRPI.599 Displacement, a common occurrence in Irumu Territory, Ituri was an additional factor that predisposed boys, often already

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Survival Strategy: Physical Protection Revenge & Protection of Family or Community

One quarter of the children who voluntarily joined FRPI cited Revenge and self-defense was a less prominent reason for self-protection as the reason for enrollment. Most commonly, children to join FRPI than for ethnically based groups in North boys fled from family abuse or neglect. For instance, a 14-year- and South Kivu. Eight percent of child volunteers for FRPI did so old boy who joined rather than submit to his parents’ severe to exact revenge and to defend their families and communities. beatings, a 12-year-old boy who joined after his father died and Still, the death of a direct family member, particularly a father his mother abandoned him for a second marriage in North Kivu. figure, at the hands of FARDC was a powerful emotional factor In another case, a 10-year-old boy volunteered after his mother in a child’s decision to join FRPI. left for Uganda and his father kicked him out of the house, forcing him to seek out his uncle living in a FRPI camp.606 In line with the FRPI long-standing history and occasional targeting by the Government during lulls in dialogue, children The destructive impact of years of conflict in Ituri on family sought vengeance not against armed groups of other ethnicities structures was apparent in numerous children’s stories but rather against the FARDC, like the 16-year-old boy who explaining why they volunteered for FRPI. For instance, a joined after his father was killed and his mother remarried a 12-year-old boy grew up as an orphan and was raised by his FARDC soldier. 612 Sometimes vengeance moved children to join uncle stated that, when FARDC killed his uncle in 2014, he felt he quickly, like the 15-year-old boy who went straight to a FRPI had no other option than to join FRPI for his survival.607 bush camp after watching FARDC kill his father in April 2016.613 Other times, the desire for revenge burned slowly, as it did for FRPI itself was also the menace that children sought to protect the boy who sought retaliation years after his parents were themselves and their families from by joining the group, judging killed by FARDC in Gety in 2013.614 that it was safer to be inside the group than outside it. This was the calculation of a 16-year-old boy who, in his own words, Occasionally, boys would band together to take revenge by “judged it better to offer myself as a recruit” after FRPI attacked jointly volunteering, like the 14-year-old boy from Bukiringi who his village and killed his parents.608 FRPI’s constant harassment decided to join after he and his friends were harassed again and of individual children, families and villages led a number of boys again by FARDC who accused them of being associated with to join the group just to no longer be a target.609 The village FRPI.615 of Supreme suffered frequent harassment and looting raids by FRPI until the village chief called a 14-year-old boy and four of DDR Benefits & Integration into the FARDC his friends to offer themselves to the group to ensure protection for the village.610 A rare but telling reason that some boys joined FRPI in late 2014 was the aim of integrating into the FARDC. At the time, Occasionally, boys joined FRPI to evade arrest for petty crimes, negotiations between the Government and FRPI were promising, like the 15-year-old boy who held up community members with with scores of commanders demobilizing and integrating into a fake wooden gun, the 16-year-old boy who was on the run the FARDC, along with their elements. The lure of an FARDC after a fistfight, or the 16-year-old boy who was caught having salary was a strong pull for at least one 15-year-old boy who sex with his girlfriend.611 For all of these boys, FRPI appeared to quit the child DDR sewing skills program he was attending and be a safe hiding spot. voluntarily re-recruited when he heard that surrendering FRPI elements would receive money. 616 In at least one case, a boy voluntarily re-joined FRPI to become eligible for reintegration activities. This 17-year-old boy left his child DDR program with a UNICEF partner in Aveba when FRPI Etat Major Yambi asked the boy to run an errand moving money. The boy complied, saying he had seen FRPI elements demobilizing and he thought that doing Yambi’s bidding would make him eligible to integrate into the FARDC.617

P. 128 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: FRPI

Pull Factors: Why FRPI Recruited Children

Build Size and Manpower Gender

FRPI commanders and elements appeared to be were well FRPI systematically abducted and recruited girls for sex. In fact, aware that they could manipulate children’s so-called part FRPI had the highest rate of recruitment of girls (27%) of any time jobs in the group to build its size and power, particularly armed group in the DRC and the highest rate of sexual violence when negotiations with the Government looked shaky.618 More among girls (93%). In some cases, girls in prior relationships with frequently, FRPI abducted children to fill its ranks. This was the FRPI elements were forced into their camps. When a 15-year- case for the 17-year-old boy who was working as a miner in a old girl became pregnant from a FRPI element while living with community frequented by FRPI elements looking for a beer. In her parents, she joined him in the camp where she became his September 2017, the group was searching for new combatants “wife.”621 In another case, a 15-year-old girl who had been living and abducted the boy. 619 with her boyfriend for two years when her boyfriend abducted by her and forced to continue living with him in the FRPI camp as his concubine.622 Gather Intelligence

One of the most common roles that children played in FRPI was that of spy, suggesting that FRPI valued children’s ability to quickly and quietly gather intelligence on FARDC movements or to scope out future pillaging targets without gaining attention. In just one example, FRPI specifically recruited a 16-year-old boy as a spy to identify and target wealthy households to attack at night. 620

Trigger Violation: Abduction

FRPI had the highest rate of recruitment via abduction of any between FRPI abduction of girls versus boys is glaring in its armed group in the DRC since 2014, including Kamuina Nsapu. almost exactly inverse pattern: 81% of girls abducted compared Thirty nine percent of all children recruited by FRPI arrived via to 20% of boys. abduction. Notably, while recruitment by FRPI decreased from 2014 to 2017, abductions remained steady, suggesting that FRPI As a starting point, 81% of girls recruited by FRPI via abduction placed a priority on maintaining a steady supply of girls for were specifically targeted for being children. While rates of 67% 8% 9% 13% sexual purposes. abduction by FRPI among adult women were not available, children’s testimony suggests that FPRI prized girls specifically Abduction byReleased FRPI is an inherently gendered child recruitment for their age. For example, FRPI abducted four girls while only tactic. While FRPI is not alone among armed groups in robbing and releasing the women present.623 FRPI typically predominantlyArrested targeting girls for abduction, the difference abducted girls directly from their homes or fields, with one

Escaped

CHILD RECRUITMENT VIA ABDUCTION BY FRPI ABDUCTION OF GIRLS AND BOYS BY FRPI

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED 120 CHILDREN ABDUCTED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED

100 TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED TOTAL NUMBER OF 80 120 CHILDREN RECRUITED TREND LINE 81%100 20% 60 OF GIRLS OF BOYS WERE ABDUCTED80 WERE ABDUCTED 40 60

2% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 RELEASED 40 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

RECRUITMENT VIA ABDUCTION2014 RECRUITMENT2015 VIA OTHER2016 MEANS 2017 20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017 2014 2015 2016 2017 3% OTHER

Other

Released “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 129

Arrested

Escaped

600 TOTAL CHILDREN 500 ESCAPED SEPARATED TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 500 RECRUITED 400 GIRLS ARRESTED BOYS 400 Other

Released TOTAL CHILDREN300 RECRUITEDABDUCTED TOTAL300 CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED Arrested 100 100100

Escaped 200 VOLUNTARY 80 200 VOLUNTARY 80 FORCED Other FORCED 100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 60 60 100 Surrendered 2014 2015 2016 2017 40 40 Released PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE 2014 2015 2016 2017 20 20 Arrested

2014 2015 2016 2017 Escaped 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 FRPI 0 PERPETRATORS 2014 2015 2016 2017 62% ESCAPED ESCAPED ARRESTED

2% RELEASED UNDETERMINED SURRENDERED

ER 5% TH UNDETERMINED O 22% % SURRENDERED 3

OF CHILDREN IN D E R E FRPI D N E R R U HOW S

% 7

3 %

CHILDREN

E E

D S

A LEFT E

22% %

RELEASED FRPI

FRPI

AVERAGE OF R

ALL PERPETRATORS

AVERAGE

AMONG TOP 7 PERPETRATORS FRPI 35% VOLUNTARY VOLUNTARY FORCED 9% UNKNOWN ARRESTED

TARY LUN VO 3% 2

20%

UNKNOWN

HOW

FRPI

% 0%

RECRUITED R OF CHILDREN IN

FRPI ESCAPED TO

FRPI

W CHILDREN

O MONSUCO BASES

N AVERAGE OF

% TOP 7 PERPETRATORS 8

44% FORCED PART II: FRPI

14-year-old girl robbed and abducted from her stall in the Gety paths with FRPI elements who were returning from a pillaging market to become her abductor’s “wife,” and another 13-year- expedition laden with loot. The elements beat the boy and old girl abducted by her future “husband” while watching a forced him to carry the bags of looted goods 20km to their football match with schoolmates.624 FRPI was also known to camp.629 One boy, aged 16, found himself with FRPI elements abduct girls en masse.625 In one case, a group of girls fled at at his door and nothing to offer them as loot. Instead, the FRPI the sight of approaching FRPI elements; the fast ones escaped elements beat the boy and forced him to carry looted goods while their slower sisters were abducted.626 Often FRPI from other houses.630 Occasionally, boys were abducted by FRPI elements first raped girls and then abducted them, after which on suspicion of spying on the group, as was a 14-year-old boy the girls were systematically raped again under the guise of abducted for allegedly “spying for the FARDC” while visiting forced marriage. This was the fate of a 16-year-old girl who was his grandmother.631 Sometimes the circumstances of abduction raped and abducted by a group of FRPI elements in October were more opportunistic, like the 17-year-old boy who fell into 2016 while collecting firewood with four other girls, all of whom a FRPI ambush while on his way from an apprenticeship in escaped.627 In some cases, familial links to FRPI paved the way Tshekele. Six FRPI elements, two of whom were armed, shot out for girls’ abduction by bringing them in regular proximity with the tires of the boy’s motorcycle and took him into the bush in FRPI. This was the case for a 16-year-old girl who went as usual a FRPI vehicle.632 to visit her uncle, an FRPI element, only to find that her uncle had rotated to another FRPI position and the girl was abducted While most children were abducted by small squads of two to by his replacement.628 eight FRPI elements, children also reported massive abduction operations. In one case, more than 100 FRPI elements, including For boys, abduction was a different experience. FRPI did women and children armed with AK-47s, abducted 10 children, occasionally employ the tactics of pillage, porter, and abduct including three girls, along with 30 adults during an August for boys that were used more commonly by armed groups 2017 night attack in Irumu Territory, Ituri.633 operating in North Kivu. For example, a 16-year-old boy crossed

Re-Recruitment

FRPI had a relatively low rate of re-recruitment at 3%, perhaps In contrast to other top perpetrators like Nyatura, FRPI rarely in part due to the part-time nature of some children’s activities searched specifically for individual children to re-recruit. In in the group. Indeed, FRPI’s door was always open, as some only one case did a child report that his commander actively children found when they voluntarily re-joined the group to searched for him after his escape. Two weeks after reuniting with escape difficult family situations. One 15-year-old boy left his family in June 2014, the 16-year-old boy was re-recruited. FRPI and reunited with his family, however his incestuous 636 This, however, did not prevent children who escaped from sexual relationship with his cousin soon caused friction in the FRPI from fearing re-recruitment. FRPI re-recruited a 17-year- household and the boy voluntarily rejoined FRPI.634 Another old boy, held him “prisoner,” and beat him daily for three weeks boy, aged 16, rejoined 10 months after reuniting with his family as punishment for escaping, leaving permanent scars. When when FRPI looted his reinsertion kit and he found himself the boy managed to escape, he was immediately arrested by without means of subsistence.635 FARDC and forced to perform heavy labor in detention, despite his injuries. This combination of re-recruitment and ill treatment by FRPI and detention and forced labor by FARDC left the boy seriously distressed, physically weak and “scared to ever return to South Irumu.”637

P. 130 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: FRPI

AGE GENDER NATIONALITY IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A II. DURING: HALF OF THE MILITIA’S AGE GENDER NATIONALITY IN THEEXISTENCE, FIRST YEAR FRPI AND A WASHALF THE OF THIRDTHE MILITIA’S HIGHEST CHILDEXISTENCE, RECRUITER FRPI IN THE CHILDREN’S LIVES INSIDE FRPI DRCWAS SINCE THE THIRD 2014 ANDHIGHEST THE NUMBERCHILD RECRUITER ONE RECRUITER IN THE OFDRC CHILDREN SINCE 2014 IN AND2017: THE 370 NUMBERCHILDREN ONE (58 RECRUITER GIRLS, 312 BOYS)OF CHILDREN AND 264 IN CHILDREN 2017: 370 (25CHILDREN GIRLS, 239 (58 BOYS) GIRLS, WERE 312 150 150 RECRUITEDBOYS) AND BY264 THE CHILDREN MILITIA SUPPORT ROLES Support (25 GIRLS,IN 2017 239 AND BOYS) 2016, WERE Combatants RECRUITEDRESPECTIVELY. BY THE MILITIA 120 120 COMBATANTS IN 2017 AND 2016, THE PROFILE OF A CHILD RECRUITED BY FRPI FROM 2014-2017 RESPECTIVELY. 90 90 37% 60 60 #1 OF CHILDREN USED 303 35% 28% 2% RECRUIT IN COMBATANT ROLES CHILDREN RECRUITED WERE UNDER WERE GIRLS ARE FOREIGN BORN #1 BY FRPI 15 35%YEARS OLD 28% 2% ER IN SINCE30330 2014 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 30 2017RECRUIT CHILDREN RECRUITED WERE UNDER WERE GIRLS ARE FOREIGN BORN WITHER IN SINCE 2014 15 YEARS OLD 3702017 WITH 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 370CHILDRE N FRPI CHILD AVERAGE % OF CHILDRE COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS RECRUIT FROM ALL 2014 2015 2016 2017 EDN FRPI CHILD TOP 7 PERPETRATORS RECRUIT SUPPORT ROLES EDOF ALL CHILDREN CHILD RECRUITMENT BY FRPI RECRUITED IN THE TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED DRCOF ALL ARE CHILDREN RECRUITED BY FRPI RECRUITED IN THE TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL BY FRPI 1500 TREND OF CHILD RECRUITMENT DRC ARE RECRUITED BY FRPI BY FRPI ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED 1200 IN THE DRC

900

2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 73% 600 OF GIRLS SURVIVE 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 SEXUAL VIOLENCE

IN FRPI NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300

2014 2015 2016 2017

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE 0 IN FRPI AGAINST GIRLS 2014 2015 2016 2017 FROM ALL TOP 7

FENSE C DE HNI ET ECTION 5% E/ ROT The Girls & Boys Recruited byN GFRPIF-P C OF CHILDREN E EL ONOMI EV S EC SURVIVE SEXUAL R 8% 0% URE % 1 4 ESS VIOLENCE IN FRPI 7 PR FRPI recruited at least 303 children, including 83 girls, inER the last four years. Given the “part-time” nature PE Y/ of association with FRPI, however, this is thought toIL underestimate the actual scale of child recruitment M A by the group. Nevertheless, the downward trend F is an encouraging one. % 7 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 4 BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN FRPI ABDUCTED OVER TIME BY YEAR This decrease may be related to the declining strength of the However, ongoing tensions between the Hema and Ngiti ABDUCTED OVER TIME BY YEAR FRPI overall, which has shrunk from an estimated 5000 plus communities still allow the FRPI to retain a foothold as a combatants in 2002-2003 to an estimated 400-500 in 2018. stakeholder in the security and political landscape in Ituri, In recent years, the gradual fragmentation of the group has including as an active recruiter of children. undermined the operational cohesion of the FRPI, and the overall command authority of [Colonel] Mbadu, diminishing CHILDREN ABDUCTED 80 BY FRPI its capacity to recruit and retain80 child soldiers as it once did. 400 400 CHILDREN ABDUCTED Abducted Zero 8070 BY FRPI 350 350 8070 400 400 Recruited Abducted Zero 7060 350 350 6070 300 300 Recruited

60 50 6050 300250 300250

40 50 4050 250200 200250

4030 4030 200150 200150 CHILDREN RECRUITED 3020 20 100 100150 BY FRPI NUMBER OF CHILDREN 30 150 NUMBER OF CHILDREN CHILDREN RECRUITED 2010 2010 10050 10050 BY FRPI NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN

10 10 50 50 0 2016 2017 0 2016 2017

0 2016 2017 0 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017

2016 2017 2016 2017

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 131

NDC-Rénové

FRPI

Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Rayia Mutomboki

Kamuina Nsapu

Nyatura

FDLR FOCA PART II: FRPI

AGE OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY FRPI GENDER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY FRPI

100 100 100 100 90 90 90 90 80 80 80 80 70 70 70 70 60 60 60 60 % % 50 5050 50 50 50

% % 40 4040 40 40 4040 40 35 35 PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE PERCENTAGE 30 3030 30 30 3030 30 25 25 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 15 15 10 1010 10 10 1010 10 5 5 0 0 0 0 2014 20142015 20152016 20162017 2017 2014 20142015 20152016 20162017 2017 2014 20142015 20152016 20162017 2017 2014 20142015 20152016 20162017 2017 % ABOVE 15 % ABOVE% UNDER 15 15 % UNDER 15 % BOYS % BOYS% GIRLS % GIRLS

Age Gender

On average, 35% of children recruited by FRPI are younger than Of all armed groups documented as recruiting children in the 15 years old, a figure on par with Rayia Mutomboki. In 2014, DRC, FRPI has the highest rate of girls among its recruits: 27%, the heaviest year of FRPI’s child recruitment, half of all children outranking Kamuina Nsapu with 21%. This was clearly linked to were under age 15, a percentage that dipped in 2015 and 2016 the group’s exploitation of girls as sex slaves and “wives” but it before rising again in 2017. Unlike other armed groups, FRPI was may also be related to MONUSCO CPS outreach encouraging more likely to recruit and use boys under age 15 than girls. girls to come out of the shadows and claim the child DDR benefits to which they were entitled. The same year as the outreach campaign - 2015 - the number of girls documented spiked to 37%, suggesting that in fact the percentage of girls among children recruited by FRPI is, in actuality, far higher than 27%.

P. 132 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: FRPI

Life for Children Inside FRPI

Initiation Rites & Daily Life Friendships and family relationships played a central role inside Children separated from FRPI described living in camps ranging FPRI, in part because they were central factors in pushing from 18 elements of which half were children, to camps of up children, or at least boys, to join the group. One boy reported 643 to 100 elements, with approximately 10% children.638 While “finding [his] friends in the bush.” And another reported military training was universal for new child recruits, FRPI living with at least 50 other children, as well as adults, in the 644 appeared to employ magic less regularly than groups like Mayi camp. Nevertheless, life inside FRPI was harsh, with children Mayi Mazembe, NDC-Rénové or Kamuina Nsapu, although describing “torture” [ill treatment], such as the a 15-year-old children and adults did serve as “magicians” or fétisheurs.639 girl escaping in a state of malnutrition, and a 14-year-old boy suffering from severe lower back pain due to regular physical 645 Rather, induction appeared to be more pragmatic and less abuse. One 16-year-old “wife” and cook sought solace from ceremonial, in part due to the part-time nature in which children such punishments in her garden, which she had to abandon 646 were members of FRPI and their communities at the same time, during clashes. slipping from visiting a sibling or selling beer to becoming a full-fledged member of the group. Like the 14-year-old boy who would visit his friends in the group to share meals until he too joined, although even afterwards he regularly returned home to visit his mother, bringing her meat and other looted goods.640 Or the 15-year-old girl who went back and forth between her village and her “husband’s” barracks. 641 Some children even reported continuing to attend school while living in FRPI camps and joining looting raids.642

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 133 FRPI - ABDOUCTION

IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF OF THE MILITIA’S EXISTENCE, FRPI WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST CHILD RECRUITER IN THE % OF RECRUITS THROUGH ABDUCTION DRC SINCE 2014 AND THE % UNDER AGE 15 NUMBER ONE RECRUITER OF CHILDREN IN 2017: 370 CHILDREN (58 GIRLS, 312 BOYS) AND 264 CHILDREN (25 GIRLS, 239 BOYS) WERE RECRUITED BY THE MILITIA % OF RECRUITS THROUGH ABDUCTION IN 2017 AND 2016, RESPECTIVELY.

100 TOTAL RECRUITS 90 % ABDUCTED 80 70 % 60 60

50 50

40 40

30 PERCENTAGE 30

20 20

10 10

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 PART II: FRPI

2014 2015 2016 2017

Role: Combatant Role: Support

With a steady rate of 37% of all child recruits serving as The remaining 63% of children recruited by FRPI played support % OF RE-RECRUITS AGAINST TOTAL CHILDREN combatants, FRPI is on the middle-lower end of the spectrum roles, ranging from semi-combatant roles like bodyguard or the compared to other top perpetrators. Not a single girl reported commander’s personal weapons porter, to witch doctor, cook, fighting for FRPI, underlining the group’s exclusive use of babysitter, butcher, looter and shopkeeper.659 Most children girls for sexual purposes. While FRPI generally employed with “part-time” membership in FRPI played these support roles FIRST RECRUITMENT FIRST RECRUITMENT older boys as combatants, some as young as nine reported600 during the day, while returning home at night. For instance, fighting.647 Several boys of approximately 15-years-old reported one 14-year-old boy never permanentlyRE-RECRUITED lived in FRPI camps, RE-RECRUITED 500 serving simultaneously as combatant and fétisheur.648 While he simply did the shopping for the local FRPI commander on 400 2014 2015 2016 2017 girls predominantly did not participate in combat,649 FRPI market day.660 One boy reported with pride that although he commanders trained even the cooks and concubines to use AK-300 may not have fought, he “assisted in many battles between 47s.650 200 FARDC and FRPI in [his] capacity as a porter.”661 One 17-year-

100 old boy’s sole job was to steal weapons from FARDC, a role that NUMBER OF CHILDREN In a nod to its dominance in Ituri, FRPI deployed children triggered his arrest, alongside a female arms smuggler.662 0 3% 2% 7% 16% exclusively to fight FARDC, not other armed groups. Notably, 2014 2015 2016 2017 RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED clashes in which children fought against the FARDC mirrored the Commanders frequently used boys as spies and messengers663 state of FRPI-Government negotiations, with a spike reported to inform on FARDC or civilian activities in various areas. 664 by children in January 2015 after the collapse of negotiations for One 9-year-old boy was assigned to a market, where he marked FRPI to surrender.651 Likewise, a 16-year-old boy reported taking out wealthier civilians, whose houses could be pillaged that part in burning down the FARDC camp at Longosa in June night.665 Girls, while occasionally used in looting expeditions, 2016.652 Occasionally, commanders ordered child combatants usually occupied traditionally female roles like cleaner, cook to attack civilians, like the 16-year-old boy forced to loot his own or laundress during the daytime, and served as concubines at % COMBATANTS village and the 15-year-old boy ordered to kill a pastor in April night. 2017.653

CHILDREN’S ROLES IN FRPI Children’s testimony of fighting for FRPI points to significantly higher levels of sophistication and organization than most of

the other top perpetrators of child recruitment. Boys described 100 clear battalion and command structures, including serving in 90 various branches like S4 Logistics or the Naval Battalion, Samba 80 70 Battalion, Tiger Battalion, Infantry Battalion and Leopard 60 654 Battalion. Children reported serving in multiple battalions, 50 % rotating through different commanders. For example, a 16-year- 40 40 35 30

PERCENTAGE 30 old boy fought for four months with the Leopard Battalion under 25 20 20 the command of Auso and then rotated to the Naval Battalion 15 10 10 655 5 under the command of Soma for eight months. Testimony 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 reveals a well-developed command structure, with children 2014 2015 2016 2017 reporting through multiple ranks rather to a single commander, % OF CHILDREN IN SUPPORT ROLES % CHILD COMBATANTS as was often the case in armed groups in North Kivu. The 150 150 battalions also adhered to clear roles, with one 16-year-old boy SUPPORT ROLES Support Combatants fighting in a battalion led by four captains and one lieutenant, 120 120 COMBATANTS and another 17-year-old rising to the rank of sergeant in two 90 90 656 years. 37% 60 60 OF CHILDREN USED Discipline was strictly enforced and children, even if trained IN COMBATANT ROLES BY FRPI to fight, had to earn their weapons – typically AK-47, mortars, 30 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 30 SMGs, Energized Sub-Machine Guns (ESMG), and knives657 – by 658 making a genuine attempt to steal them from FARDC. 0 2014 2015 2016 2017

FRPI CHILD AVERAGE % OF COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS FROM ALL 2014 2015 2016 2017 FRPI CHILD TOP 7 PERPETRATORS SUPPORT ROLES

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY FRPI TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL 1500 TREND OF CHILD RECRUITMENT BY FRPI

ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED 1200 IN THE DRC

900

73% 600 OF GIRLS SURVIVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE

IN FRPI NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300 P. 134 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE 0 IN FRPI AGAINST GIRLS 2014 2015 2016 2017 FROM ALL TOP 7

FENSE C DE HNI ET ECTION 5% E/ ROT NG F-P C OF CHILDREN E EL ONOMI EV S EC SURVIVE SEXUAL R 8% 0% URE % 1 4 ESS VIOLENCE IN FRPI 7 PR ER PE Y/ IL M A F % 7 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 4 BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN FRPI

NDC-Rénové

FRPI

Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Rayia Mutomboki

Kamuina Nsapu

Nyatura

FDLR FOCA PART II: FRPI

Violations Triggered by Child Recruitment: The Risks Children Faced in FRPI

Sexual Violence Killing & Maiming

Sexual violence was rife in FRPI, with 93% of all girls interviewed Like all children recruited by armed groups, the risk of death disclosing rape, sexual slavery or forced marriage. While girls was very real for children in FRPI. For instance, two boys, ages also reported that boys were used for sexual purposes, no boys 14 and 15, were killed in a clash against FARDC in Kenga almost disclosed sexual violence.666 a month to the day after being recruited on 25 May 2016. Reportedly, boys made up a quarter of FRPI fatalities in that FRPI elements of all ranks systematically took girls as “wives,” attack, alongside four men and two women.676 even by boys their own age, like the 15-year-old girl forced to marry a 15-year-old boy.667 Indeed both girls and the local Child combatants in FRPI reported more severe, high-tech communities commonly referred to girls in FRPI as “wives.”668 injuries than those in armed groups in North and South Kivu, Some of these unions could be short, lasting just two weeks, suggesting that the FARDC deployed more advanced weaponry while others stretched on for three years. 669 to Ituri. Children regularly survived with shrapnel injuries and had limbs amputated due to injuries sustained from explosives, Most often, a girl’s experience began with rape during her like the boy who joined FRPI “in search of meat” and instead abduction, which was the precipitating violation for 82% of all lost his forearm to a “bomb.”677 For instance, a 17-year-old boy, girls in FRPI.670 The circumstances of girls’ rape and abduction medevaced by the Congolese Red Cross, bore oval and circular were brutal, with one 15-year-old girl raped in front of her scars on both of his arms, chest, and back following a helicopter grandfather before being abducted during a pillaging attack.671 attack. The same day he left the hospital to visit his family, he was arrested by the PNC.678 In another case, a commander However, not all girls became “wives” by abduction; occasionally, used a 13-year-old boy as a human shield, ordering him to walk forced marriages followed courtship but these relationships had ahead of the other combatants; the boy sustained two gunshot to adhere to certain social mores. For instance, a 16-year-old girl wounds and shrapnel injuries from FARDC rounds.679 joined FRPI to marry her boyfriend, whom she had met in her mother’s liquor store and who was a distant relative, however, While most child deaths and injuries occurred on the battlefield her customary chief considered the relationship to be incestuous with FARDC, children also reported sustaining injuries while and the girl was brought back to her parents four days later. 672 escaping the group, like the 14-year-old boy who took his chance during a FARDC attack but was shot in the head and These forced marriages inevitably resulted in many pregnancies, neck while running away.680 Occasionally, internal clashes within reported by both girls and boys.673 Girls as young as 13 gave FRPI resulted in injuries. For instance, a 16-year-old boy who birth in the bush.674 One 14-year-old girl gave birth to a baby joined FRPI at his brother’s request narrowly escaped FRPI in boy exactly 9 months after her abduction, and another 15-year- December 2016, when internal clash left one element dead and old girl who found she was pregnant three weeks after being injured the escaping boy in the neck.681 raped, abducted and “married,” went home to her village to deliver her baby.675

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS RECRUITED BY FRPI

100 100 ALL GIRLSAll Girls RECRUITED

Girl Survivors of Sexual Violences 8080 GIRL SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND RECRUITMENT

60 60

4040 PERCENTAGE

2020

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014 2015 2016 2017

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 135 67% 8% 9% 13%

Released

Arrested

Escaped67% 8% 9% 13%

Released

Arrested TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED 120 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED Escaped CHILDREN ABDUCTED 100 TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED TOTAL NUMBER OF 80 120 CHILDREN RECRUITED TREND LINE 100 60 80 40 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED 40 120 60 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED 2% CHILDREN ABDUCTED NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 40 100 RELEASED TOTAL NUMBER OF NUMBER OF CHILDREN CHILDREN RECRUITED TOTAL NUMBER OF 2014 2015 2016 2017 80 20142014120 20152015 20162016 2017CHILDREN2017 RECRUITED 2014 2015 2016 2017 TREND LINE 100 60 3% OTHER 80 40 60

2% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 RELEASED 40

Other NUMBER OF CHILDREN

2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016Released 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017

3% Arrested OTHER

Escaped

Other 600 TOTAL CHILDREN 500 ESCAPED SEPARATED Released TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 500 RECRUITED 400 Arrested ARRESTED 400 Other

Escaped Released 300 300 Arrested Escaped 200 500 200600 TOTAL CHILDREN ESCAPED SEPARATED Other TOTAL CHILDREN 100 RELEASED NUMBER OF CHILDREN 500 RECRUITED 100 400 ARRESTED Surrendered 400 2014 2015 2016 2017 Other Released Released 300 PART II: FRPI 300 Arrested 2014 2015 2016 2017 Escaped 200 Arrested 200 100 Other Escaped NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100 AVERAGE III. AFTER: Surrendered AMONG TOP 7 FRPI 2014 2015 2016 2017 PERPETRATORS Released 62% ESCAPED ESCAPED 2014 2015 2016 2017HOW CHILDREN WERE SEPARATED ARRESTED % 0.40 Arrested 0.35 2% RELEASED UNDETERMINED 0.30 FROM FRPI 0.25 Escaped SURRENDERED 0.20 0.15 ER 5% TH UNDETERMINED O 22% AVERAGE % 0.10 SURRENDERED 3

FRPI AMONG TOP 7 OF CHILDREN0.05 IN PERPETRATORS D E R 0.00 E FRPI 2014 2015 2016D 2017 ESCAPED N E R 62% R U HOW ESCAPED S

% ARRESTED 7 3 %

CHILDREN

RELEASED D E

2% E

D S

UNDETERMINED A LEFT E

SURRENDERED

22% %

600

RELEASED FRPI

FRPI

R E

E T

H S

5% T UNDETERMINED E

O R

22% AVERAGE% OF R

SURRENDERED A

3 500

ALL PERPETRATORS

OF CHILDREN IN

E R E FRPI D 400 N E R R U HOW S

6 KAMUINA

% 300 7

3 %

1 NSAPU

CHILDREN

D 200

E E

D S 9%

A LEFT E

L ARRESTED

E R

100

22% %

9 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

RELEASED FRPI

FRPI

R 0

AVERAGE OF R

ALL PERPETRATORS

2014 2015 2016 2017

SOUGHT MONUSCO BASE

0% OTHER 9% OF CHILDREN IN ARRESTED FRPI ESCAPED TO FRPI MONSUCO BASES AVERAGE OF TOP 7 PERPETRATORS

0% OF CHILDREN IN HOW CHILDREN LEFT FRPI OVER TIME FRPI ESCAPED TO FRPI MONSUCO BASES AVERAGE OF 80 TOP 7 PERPETRATORS80

Surrendered 70 70 Released

60 60 Arrested

Escaped 50 50

40 40

30 30 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 20

10 10

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014ESCAPED 2015ARRESTED 2016RELEASED SURRENDERED2017

P. 136 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: FRPI

Escape

With such a high rate of recruitment via abduction, particularly for girls, it is no surprise that two in three children recruited by FRPI (62%) left the group by escaping.

Why Children Escaped FRPI How Children Escaped from FRPI

For children driven to join FRPI by poverty, finding even worse Children escaping FRPI took the standard opportunistic escapes hardship in FRPI camps, such as sleeping outside without cover, so common among all armed groups in the DRC, like the was a common reason for children to escape. Children reported 14-year-old boy who escaped when sent to the market or the that life in FRPI became “very difficult” when FRPI-Government 14-year-old girl who fled at four in the morning on the premise negotiations failed in Aveba in 2015.682 of collecting the day’s water.692

For child combatants, the risk of injury or death was also a Boys and girls also escaped during clashes with FARDC,693 reason to flee. For instance, a 15-year-old boy decided to escape particularly in Aveba in January 2015 after negotiations for when he saw his best friend shot in the leg in combat.683 Others FRPI’s surrender failed. Children openly discussed how the fled threats from within FRPI, like the 16-year-old “wife” who failure of negotiations led to clashes that created opportunities was rejected by her “husband,” or the 16-year-old girl who for them to escape. For example, at least three children escaped after her father, a FRPI combatant, was murdered by escaped during the same FRPI-FARDC clash in a February 2015 other FRPI elements who then came looking for her and her at Songolo Pinga.694 mother.684 Girls in particular took the opportunity to escape from their One positive knock-on effect of FRPI’s fluid recruitment methods “husbands,” whether by the man’s death, arrest or FARDC is that children stay in touch with their family members outside integration. For instance, a 14-year-old girl escaped two days the group, who frequently persuade the child to escape. This after her “husband” was taken prisoner by FARDC in September was the case for a 16-year-old boy who joined voluntarily but 2014 and the 17-year-old “wife” who returned home after her who escaped when his uncle encouraged him to leave the group husband integrated into the FARDC.695 These child wives and go to school.685 Likewise, the family relationships inside escaped not only for themselves but for the lives of their children, the FRPI that influenced children to join FRPI, could equally like the 13-year-old girl who escaped with her 4-month-old influence children to escape when their family members did so. baby while her “husband” was on a looting mission.696 However, For instance, a 13-year-old boy recruited by his uncle escaped some “husbands” stalked their former “wives” even after their when his uncle decided to surrender and join the national DDR escape. This was the case for a 13-year-old girl abducted and program in August 2015.686 used as a concubine for 5 months until she escaped when her recruiter went on a looting operation, however he continued One of the remarkable trends in children’s escapes from FRPI visiting the girl at home.697 Girls also tended to escape together, is the impact of child DDR awareness-raising conducted by like the pair of 16-year-old girls who were abducted together NGO partners and communities. Starting in 2016, a number of and escaped together six months later, after one of the girl’s boys and girls cited child DDR programs offering skills-based “husband” was killed by FARDC in South Irumu. 698 trainings as contributing to their decision to escape.687 The part-time nature of association with FRPI aided in the ability Like children associated with the other top perpetrators, children of NGOs to reach children. For instance, a 14-year-old boy fleeing FRPI often made multiple attempts at escape and risked was visiting his family when he met NGO outreach workers severe punishment for the disloyalty of desertion. One 17-year- meeting with youth, ultimately prompting him to leave the old who held the rank of sergeant made several attempts before bush in April 2016.688 Another 13-year-old boy escaped after succeeding. When he was intercepted in his early attempts, he a local customary chief met with his commander to negotiate was severely punished.699 Another boy, age 16, was shot in the the release of children. Although the boy’s commander refused, foot by another child while escaping in November 2015.700 the boy heard the chief’s message and decided to escape of his own accord.689 Rather than escaping to MONUSCO or NGOs, girls fleeing FRPI tended to go straight home, from where their families brought The peer pressure that brought some children into FRPI could them directly to hospitals for medical and psychological care.701 also generate a movement for their exit, with networks of Boys, on the other hand, tended to go first to local chiefs before friends in FRPI sharing child DDR opportunities after a series of going home, like the 15-year-old boy who hid in the bush for NGO awareness-raising sessions in 2016. This was the case for a three weeks before contacting his local chief for protection.702 17-year-old boy who escaped after his friends were encouraged to join the child DDR program in Kapalayi in April 2016.690 In the words of one boy, he “preferred to leave FRPI to join the child DDR process with the goal of learning a trade that could help [him] in the future.”691

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Release

Among the top perpetrators of child recruitment, FRPI has the highest rate of commanders’ voluntary release of children, with 22% of all children recruited by FRPI exiting the group this way. This is due primarily to two factors: Positive developments in the FRPI-Government negotiations and determined awareness-raising of FRPI commanders by NGO partners.

During promising interludes in the negotiations, such as early Parents, often known personally to FRPI elements and January 2015 and February 2017, FRPI commanders released commanders, would go directly to FRPI camps, sometimes with many of their children. This was the case for a 17-year-old girl bribes and sometimes without, to negotiate for their children’s who was released in January 2015 when her unit was stationed release. Ransoms ranged from two goats brought by the father in Aveba during the negotiations. These soon failed and her unit of a 15-year-old boy, or 50,000CF (31USD) paid by a 15-year- returned to the bush.703 old boy’s mother, up to 150,000CF (94USD) for the release of a 16-year-old.708 Sometimes custody disputes put the child in NGO awareness-raising succeeded in persuading some the middle of warring family members, like the 12-year-old boy commanders but not others. Records showed that the same whose father, a FRPI element, had recruited the boy but whose awareness-raising session held by an NGO and a customary mother wanted him released to her when FARDC operations chief on the same day in 2016 was effective half of its audience. intensified.709 One commander in attendance refused to release his children (two escaped later on704 ), while another commander agreed to Finally, the part-time nature of some children’s roles in FRPI give children in his ranks the choice of staying or being released encouraged their commanders to release them for education to the NGO (at least three boys, ages 11, 13 and 14 chose to be or health reasons.710 One 15-year-old boy, who joined FRPI released).705 Another 14-year-old boy had in fact advocated to evade the police, sought and received his commander’s with his commander to attend the NGO awareness-raising permission to return to school.711 In another case, a 14-year-old session in the first place and ultimately won his authorization boy who grew up in the bush to FRPI parents became seriously for release.706 ill after his parents were killed. The boy’s commander called his aunt to come for the boy and to ensure he received medical Another factor that secured FRPI commanders’ agreement to treatment.712 release children was concerted advocacy by family members.707

Arrest & Capture

Children formerly associated with FRPI had a 9% arrest rate, on par with children recruited by FDLR FOCA and among the highest of all top perpetrators in the East.

The most common scenario for a child’s capture and arrest The risk of arrest and the frequent ill treatment it entailed was just after their escape, often with the complicity of local discouraged children from leaving FRPI and occasionally communities. For instance, a 16-year-old boy was forced to join forced them to return to the group or to put themselves in FRPI by his brother-in-law in June 2016 and escaped three days risky situations in an attempt to protect themselves from arrest. later, only to have local villagers alert FARDC that he was “a Fear of arrest and detention prompted one 15-year-old boy, re- FRPI spy,” leading to his arrest and 15-day detention.713 recruited twice, to hide in the bush until he approached a local NGO on his second escape.716 FRPI elements forced another Capture and arrest also occurred during direct clashes with the boy to buy groceries – drinks, cigarettes, flour and fish. The FARDC, including when children were injured on the battlefield, enormous purchase attracted the community’s attention and like the 17-year-old boy who sustained bullet wounds while they immediately informed the FARDC. To escape arrest for this fighting FARDC in Ruzinga and was captured and admitted to one errand, the boy fled to the bush. 717 Getty Hospital over Christmas 2016.714 In rare cases, children who had surrendered and been separated by MONUSCO CPS at Alongside children associated with FDLR FOCA, children FARDC regroupment centers were arrested when they returned recruited by FRPI and captured or arrested by FARDC tell brutal home. 715 stories of torture and ill treatment during their detention. In

P. 138 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: FRPI

the worst case, a 17-year-old suffered severe shrapnel wounds cell. There, he was forced to put his knees on bottle caps and in battle and was medevaced to the Medecins Sans Frontieres keep his hands in the air while counting to 600. If he fell, he was Hospital in Gety for one month; the day after his release, he beaten. Finally, he was transferred to the Military Prosecutor’s was arrested by the PNC and spent two days in Gety Prison, detention cell, where he was forced to spend his first night in a where he was beaten while both of his hands were tied behind small room with an overflowing toilet.718 Another boy survived his back. When he was transferred to the T2 Detention Cell in severe punishment from FRPI for his first escape attempt only Bunia, the boy reported that he was bound and forced to lie face to be arrested on his second attempt and forced to perform down on the floor of a truck while FARDC elements sat on the hard labor during 3 weeks of detention in T2 Bunia. 719 prisoners as they drove. He spent 42 days in the T2 detention

Surrender & Demobilization

Just 5% of the children recruited by FRPI surrendered or demobilized.

The majority of these did so in late 2014, when agreement boy’s unit to surrender to the FARDC after “many meetings on FRPI’s surrender appeared within reach. Rounds of and compromises.” In November 2014, the boy and his unit demobilization and integration of FRPI commanders into surrendered at Bunia and were brought to the FARDC Training FARDC included children in their ranks, like the 16-year-old boy Center at Kamina before the boy was screened out and returned who surrendered with his whole unit.720 These children were home.721 FRPI commanders did not only surrender with their brought to FARDC regroupment centers and subsequently combatants but also with their “wives,” creating an avenue screened out by MONUSCO CPS conducting age verification for girls to leave the group as well. A pregnant 16-year-old before former FRPI elements were integrated into the FARDC. concubine and cook surrendered with her “husband” in May In just one case, [General] Cobra Matata ordered a 17-year-old 2015, immediately being transferred to a hospital in Gety.722

Rescue

A final means of separation – and one only documented in FRPI - was rescue of children by their family members.

Perhaps because of the casual nature of association with FRPI, close by, giving him little chance to escape. Nevertheless, his parents often knew where their children were located and, father followed the group from camp to camp, trying to liberate instead of negotiating for their release, actually rescued their the boy until one day he succeeded.723 children. For instance, one commander kept his 16-year-old spy

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Endnotes

592 220586, 228434 641 220516 691 199395

593 257009, 228430 642 70775, see also 160963 692 133999, 157630, 159059

594 198141 643 228517 693 125299, 125512, 238638

595 258631 644 228498 694 139281

596 162543, 27903, 228305 645 258641, 138120, 228524 695 133527, see also 138662, 145892, 203746

597 228498 646 159046 696 228257

598 256982, see also 228534 647 228534 697 220519

599 133494, see also 198286, 105627 648 127871, 127873 698 137887, 169113 see also 157623

600 106222 649 12864 699 157616, see also 191981

601 220504 650 137887 700 162996

602 133519, 228494, see also 135012, 169466, 215506, 651 125708, 127871, see also 198286, 198090 701 159105 see also 159106 125299, 127853 652 244479 702 243137 see also 238638, 243255, 243257, 238640 603 258630, 125468, see also 134186, 198270, 162540, 169464, 70796,133328 653 244479, 238262 703 156276, see also 228524

604 220581 654 133523, 123343, 198096, 238640, 199393, 244514, 704 198007, 198090 244479 605 220728 705 198041, 198096, 198151 655 244479 606 137876, 169202, 228537 706 198151 656 157616 607 125465 707 155993, 248082, 156142, 156286, 182111 657 125295, 133504, 169466 608 129593 708 134000, 241690, 244452, see also 222474, 228257, 658 198041 220498, 220502 609 133504, see also 220522, 169198 659 133523, 169202, 126154 709 169466, see also 258632 610 198134 660 199354 710 241683 611 228318, 238537, 238638 661 199868 711 257007 612 243255 662 244449 712 220586, see also 248083 613 207485 663 129596, 128282, 162540 713 191684, see also 191839 17-year-old boy arrested the 614 243142 same day he escaped, and 69462, 125705 664 129596 615 256824, see also 198285 714 22753, see also 70796, 570795 665 256819 616 106222 715 170648 666 135527 617 106335 716 221629 667 160934 618 Note that on 3 July 2017, the Prime Minister proposed 717 198144 a dialogue with FRPI toward peaceful resolution of the 668 128164 conflict. 718 140925 669 128164, 128056, see also 133527, 133919, 133918, 13732, 619 256962 228258 719 140928, see also interrogation and torture in 125708

620 228309 670 129603 720 125031

621 135520 671 129665 721 147950, see also 133494, 27903

622 , see also 138120 672 162369 722 145890

623 220740 673 145890, 156294, 203746, 258630 723 162543, see also 162540

624 159106, 159105, see also 199864 674 228257

625 138118 675 228258, 198332

626 138662 676 197644

627 211538, see also 218022, 232596, 258633 677 228498

628 238284 678 140925

629 215509 679 207219

630 160356, see also 160364 680 182663

631 139284 681 220521

632 179945 682 125295, see also 127853, 129593, 129596, 129603, 133328, 95530, 95579 633 244683 683 228316 634 135884 684 258627, 203756 635 238640. A UNICEF reinsertion kit typically includes soap, clothing, and shoes, among other essential items. 685 133504, see also 157637, 227539

636 135887 686 160963

637 140928 687 199857

638 256953, 256797 688 198134, see also 199393

639 220728 689 198149

640 228524 690 199390, see also 220497

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 141 IN-DEPTH PROFILE: NDUMA DEFENSE OF CONGO – RÉNOVÉby NDC-Rénové GUIDON (NDC-RÉNOVÉ)

Mayi Moya ! Semuliki Bridge ! ITURI Oicha UNITED NATIONS ( Mamudioma ! Mbau ! Child Recruitment Mavivi by NDC-Rénové ! from 2014 to 2017 Pandekali ! Beni ( ! Country Capital Major Road Lubena Mabangwa ! ! BENI .! Province Capital International Boundary ( Territory Capital Province Boundary ! Relevant Sites Territory Boundary Ntoyo ! Mutwanga ! Mundiba Source: MONUSCO Child Protection, June 2018 ! Disclaimer: This product is conﬁdential and exclusive property of United Nations MONUSCO. It should neither be disseminated nor sold outside MONUSCO. This product is designed for MONUSCO Biambwe operational requirements. The boundaries and names shown ! and the designations used on this map do not imply o cial endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. OICHA

Number of Children Recruited: Butembo ! Katwa < 50 ! Lukomo 50-100 Vusa ! Kasindi Muhangi ! Musienene ! ! ! 100-200 LUBERO Kyondo 200-300 ! 300-400 Masereka Ishango 400-500 Lubero ! ! ( Karongo 500-750 !

750-1000 Katandele 1000-2000 ! Bilundule !

Bingi LAKE EDOUARD Kasinga ! ! Katundu !

NORD-KIVU Kirumba ! Kisangani Luofu ! !

Vitshumbi Kanyabayonga ! Miriki ! ! Ishasha I ! Buleusa ! Rwindi ! Katanda ! Matoto ! Nyamilima ! Kibirizi !

Mpeti Kyahala ! Kisharu ! Kikuku ! Pinga ! Kilima ! ! Nyanzale ! Kashuga I ! RUTSHURU UGANDA Misoke Bumbi ! Mweso ! WALIKALE ! Kiwanja Mpoﬁ Bunyampuli ! ! ! Rutshuru Tongo ( ! Kibua Rubare ! Kitchanga ! ! Kalengera ! Butare Kinyamahura Kashebere Nyabiondo ! ! ! ! ! Mwamvula Katale ! ! Bunagana Kanyatsi ! Masisi ! Mihanga ( Rugari Walikale ! ( Ntoto ! Kirolirwe ! Kabati Kibumba Kahundu ! ! RWANDA ! Bihambwe Luhanga ! Osso ! ! ! Mushake NYIRANGONGO MASISI Karuba ! ! Sake ! Bushi ! Mutiko ! Mugunga ! ! Monigi Ngungu Kirotshe ! Matshumbi ! Itebero ! Mikolo ! Goma ! .! Nkuba !

LAKE KIVU Hombo ! SUD-KIVU LAKE KIVU

0 12.5 25 50 Kilometers

P. 142 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 TERRITORY MOTIVE North Kivu (Walikale, Lubero); Nyanga self-defense against Rwandaphone presence; Tshopo border areas Control of natural resources; Taxation

CHILDREN RECRUITED ETHNICITY Nyanga Total: 164 724 Trend: Increase PRIMARY MEANS OF RECRUITMENT Girls: 12% / Boys: 88% Forced (43%) Voluntary (25%) Abducted: 34% PRIMARY PUSH FACTORS AMONG VOLUNTEERS Sexual Violence Against Girls: 80% Economic (32%); Revenge/Ethnic Defense (32%); Under 15: 28% Family/Peer Pressure (22%) Combatants: 49% Re-Recruited: 2% PRIMARY MEANS OF SEPARATION Escape (79%, to MONUSCO 15%); Surrender (9%); Release

Average(7%); Arrest (5%)

TRENDS IN CHILD RECRUITMENT BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ Girls Under 15 Combatants Abductions Total Children Recruited 6060 TOTAL CHILDREN UNDER 15

ABDUCTIONS 50 50 COMBATANTS

GIRLS 4040

3030 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 2020

1010

20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017

Nduma0 Defense of Congo – Rénové (NDC-Rénové) broke Overall, Cheka lost up to three-quarters of his elements BLUE, SEA GREEN, SLATE GRAY, BURNT ORANGE AND DEEPoff PURPLE from NDC-Cheka in July 2014 under the leadership and weapons to Guidon, and defections from NDC to of Cheka’s former Second in Command, Guidon NDC-Rénové continued for many months after the

GIRLS UNDER 15 Shimiray Mwissa. At itsTOTAL origin, CHILDREN NDC was motivated by split. Since then, the group has expanded its control

control of gold and other natural resources inRE-RECRUITED Walikale andABDUCTIONS influence in Lubero territory, notably implementing Territory, while claiming to fight for the inclusion of local lucrative taxation rackets and controlling key mining COMBATANTS COMBATANTS communities in the management of these resources sites. against perceived competition from Rwandophone interests. On the security front, the group claimed to Today, NDC-Rénové is considered one of the strongest,

defend the TOTALNyanga CHILDREN community from FDLR FOCA. GIRLSbest-equipped UNDERand 15 financiallyCOMBATANTS secure Congolese armed groups currently operating in eastern DRC, with RE-RECRUITED ABDUCTIONS sophisticated economic operations, expansionist aims, and logistical strength. NDC-Rénové faces little military pressure from the FARDC, a key factor in its expansion to date.

60 “OUR60 STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 143

50 50

40 40 VOLUNTARY FORCED UNKOWN

30 30

20 20 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 10 10

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

VOLUNTARY FORCED UNKNOWN 2014 2015 2016 2017 81% 20% OF GIRLS OF BOYS ARE ABDUCTED ARE ABDUCTED PART II: NDC-Rénové

ABDUCTION OTHER MEANS I. BEFORE: HOW & WHY CHILDREN WERE RECRUITED BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ

IZE AND POWER ILD S BU STATE-LIKE CO ERT NTRO ASS L O VE R SURE TE GIRLS S PRES R BOYS ER RI R E NSE TO P EFE R O & C D Y LY NI TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED I H MIC TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED& T M ET ONO 100 A / EC 100100 P F GE % U C % N 2 N 2 E 3 I 2 V S VOLUNTARY A E H 80 R VOLUNTARY 80 T FORCED F % R 2 FORCED A 3 N 60 L 60 S G L R E 40 40 S S

PERCENTAGE U PERCENTAGE O S R 20 P 20 S

2014 2015 2016 2017

2014 2015 O 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 T

2014 2015 C 2016 2017

U P

AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 NDC- PERPETRATORS RÉNOVÉ 43% VOLUNTARY VOLUNTARY FORCED

UNKNOWN

TARY LUN VO 3% 2

34%

UNKNOWN

HOW

NDC-RÉNOVÉ

RECRUITED C

O CHILDREN

25% NDC RENOVEFORCED

P. 144 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: NDC-Rénové

Push Factors: Why Children Volunteered to Join NDC-Rénové

At least one quarter of all children recruited by NDC-Rénové volunteered to join the group, predominantly in 2016. In some cases, such volunteerism was an active choice, for instance with a 15-year-old boy “presenting [himself] to Guidon’s camp,” while in others it was reminiscent of the slippery slope common among children in FRPI, in which children were used informally, for example as spies, before formal recruitment.725

Survival Strategy: Economic Support Revenge & Protection of Family or Community

A third (32%) of all child volunteers for NDC-Rénové did so A third of children volunteering for NDC-Rénové were motivated for economic reasons. With highly lucrative control of the by the desire to avenge their parents’ deaths or to protect their gold economy in the isolated Walikale and Lubero Territories, communities. As the tit-for-tat cycle of reprisals between FDLR- including collecting taxes and imposing a monopoly on both FOCA and NDC-Rénové gained momentum in 2016, children buying gold and selling commodities, NDC-Rénové appears volunteering that year used increasingly ethnic arguments to to have developed a modus vivendi with the impoverished justify their choice to join NDC-Rénové. For instance, when communities it controls. Moreover, the group’s income a 15-year-old boy heard that “the Rwandans” had killed his allows it to afford to pay child soldiers salaries of reportedly brothers in Kikuku and were coming to occupy his village, he 20,000CF (12USD), a sum that can go a long way in these rural, joined the group in a fit of anger to “face the aggressors and mountainous areas.726 Salaries attracted both girls and boys, defend his community.”731 In October 2016, another boy joined with one 14-year-old girl joining after watching “many girls” join after a Nande chief was killed by “Hutu people.”732 Indeed, and report back that they were “well-received and given a lot of local chiefs were often complicit in rallying boys to enroll in money.”727 However, not all children were paid equally, with one NDC-Rénové to “fight the FDLR.” 733 Rather ironically, NDC- 14-year-old Hutu boy saying that he never received his salary Rénové also recruited Hutu children, e.g. a 14-year-old Hutu because he was “discriminated against for being Hutu.”728 boy “arrested” for allegedly being Rwandan who found himself among many tribes inside the group.734 Like many other child volunteers in North Kivu and Ituri, hardship at home pushed children to search for other viable options, Boys were most likely to join in order to avenge a parent’s death, including a 14-year-old boy who volunteered in Binyampuri, like the three brothers, aged 10, 12 and 15, whose parents were Walikale Territory in 2015.729 Boys in particular reported shame killed by “Hutus” and decided to join NDC-Rénové together for at their families’ inability to pay schools fees and found pride ‘’vengeance one day.”735 Another boy, aged 15, was abducted in joining NDC-Rénové. This was the case for a 16-year-old by FDLR FOCA while farming with his older brother. “With the boy who lived “a precarious life” at home. When he saw other help of God,” the younger brother escaped, leaving his older children from the neighborhood going to school while he had to brother in the FDLR’s hands. Two weeks later, he learned that stay at home, he became angry and frustrated, going back and his brother had been executed and he reported for duty to an forth to the fields with his parents. One day, the boy decided to NDC-Rénové camp to avenge his brother’s death.736 It was not enroll himself in NDC-Rénové, with the motive of “creating an unusual for the desire for revenge to combine with other push identity.”730 factors, like economic hardship, making the decision to join all the more tempting.737

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Family & Peer Pressure Survival Strategy: Physical Protection

Approximately one quarter of children who volunteered did Another less common reason for children to enroll in NDC- so under the influence of friends, brothers, and fathers. After Rénové was the need for self-protection, whether from family NDC-Rénové carved out its own territory by 2016, family ties disputes or the group’s own death threats. 742 The additional became a greater push factor, familiarizing children with the factor of displacement and family separation, a not uncommon group casually, as with the FRPI. Take, for instance, the 14-year- occurrence in Walikale Territory, made children more vulnerable old boy who often visited his elder brother, an NDC-Rénové to the arguments of recruiters promising them safety inside element under Guidon’s command, in Pinga, Walikale Territory. the group, like the 17-year-old boy who fled fighting between The boy usually looked after his nephew during his visits but he NDC-Rénové and FARDC in August 2016 and became separated was also trained to use a weapon.738 Another 15-year-old boy from his aunt. While searching for her, NDC-Rénové elements was persuaded by long-time friends who were already in the persuaded the boy to join for his safety.743 group that he should enroll to “gain more from my life” and that “anything was possible” in NDC-Rénové. The boy and his friend Death threats – a regular hazard of life in NDC-Rénové territory immediately approached the nearest NDC-Rénové camp.739 – commonly propelled children into the group. At times the One 15-year-old boy joined the group in 2016 when five other children had to save themselves, like the 15-year-old boy child soldiers persuaded him to join.740 who quickly agreed to join NDC-Rénové after watching them disembowel a man who refused to hand over his goats and The arguments used by family members or friends in NDC- cows to the group.744 Another boy, abducted in 2016 and Rénové highlighted the lack of alternatives in North Kivu, with thrown in a prison cell in an NDC-Rénové camp, was given the one 14-year-old boy’s father, an NDC-Rénové leader, telling his non-choice of “joining the group or dying in prison.”745 Other son that, “studies are useless in the DRC.”741 times, children sacrificed themselves to save their family members’ lives. A fifteen-year-old boy did just this when he and his younger brother, age eight, were ambushed on the way to the Mundjuli market, Walikale Territory. NDC-Rénové elements demanded the boys prove they had paid their security taxes but only the older brother had the requisite token. The combatants told the older boy to join or his brother would be killed. Having witnessed the group decapitate two other youths for not having paid their taxes, the boy knew their threats were credible and joined the group to save his little brother’s life.746 NDC-Rénové subjected girls too to such life-and-death choices, like the 15-year-old girl who agreed to join the group to “spare my family members’ lives.”747

P. 146 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: NDC-Rénové

Pull Factors: Why NDC-Rénové Recruited Children

Build Size and Power Assert State-like Control Over Territory & Punish Transgressors

NDC-Rénové was documented as conducting active recruitment Starting in late 2016, child recruitment became closely campaigns to specifically recruit children and build its manpower. intertwined with NDC-Rénové’s de facto authority and assertion [General] Guidon himself led at least one of these campaigns, of state-like functions, including imposing “rules” such as according to a 14-year-old boy who was first recruited by taxes, enforcing law and order, and punishing alleged criminals. APCLS and, following his escape, was re-recruited in 2015 when Children interviewed increasingly referred to abductions by “Guidon came to Buleusa to recruit children for his group.”748 NDC-Rénové as “arrests,” which armed groups, as non-state Children reported that the group strategically timed recruitment actors, cannot carry out. Commanders appeared to use child campaigns to coincide with preparations for major offensives. recruitment as a punishment for breaking the group’s rules. For During one such recruitment campaign, a 14-year-old boy instance, a 14-year-old boy was “arrested,” along with all the volunteered when he heard the call to “reinforce [NDC-Rénové] other youth in his village, for not paying a “sleep well” night in combat against “Ndime Ndime,” possibly a reference to NDC- tax, and another 16-year-old boy was thrown in a prison cell for Cheka or his successor, Mandaima.749 Notably, one 15-year-old one week before undergoing military training as punishment boy, who was abducted in 2015 and escaped in 2017, linked his for not having the right permissions to farm a particular field.751 recruitment to the Government, recounting that NDC-Rénové’s The list goes on, including two 17-year-old boys imprisoned at objective was to “fight for the interests of the FARDC.”750 Brigade Headquarters on accusations of hiding an NDC-Rénové escapee and eventually forced to enroll, and the 13-year-old boy recruited for failing to pay NDC-R’s tax of 100CF (6 US Cents).752

These rules however were often arbitrary and the penalties for infringing them extremely severe. For instance, a 16-year-old boy was abducted from Buleusa IDP camp on allegations that he was a FDLR FOCA collaborator. Thrown in prison in the NDC- Rénové camp for two weeks, the boy joined after he and all the prisoners were given the non-choice of being inducted or being strangled to death.753 In another extreme case, a 15-year-old boy was “arrested,” enrolled and whipped every morning and night for two weeks for stealing a bush rat from a NDC-Rénové trap.754 In such situations, the group’s motivation to exert control over communities melded with children’s survival strategies, both of which resulted in children’s recruitment.

Moreover, the lack of State authority in the group’s territory provides little deterrent against child recruitment, whether overt or under the guise of law and order.

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NDC-Rénové’s Recruiters

NDC-Rénové’s child recruitment patterns display an unusually frequent involvement of the group’s commander, with children’s testimony revealing that Guidon personally recruited children or otherwise defining a direct chain of command from individual recruiters to Guidon himself.

At least one boy reported being personally recruited by Sandoka in Irameso and Mapera, Walikale Territory in January Guidon in September 2015 in Bunyatenge, Lubero Territory.755 2017, [Colonel] Kabido Patrick in Lusogha, Rutshuru Territory in Other boys, aged 13 to 16, reported being recruited by high- November 2016, and [Colonel, Commander of the 3rd Brigade] level commanders, including Guidon’s deputy commander Kamutoto in 2017.756 Dodoly in Pinga, Walikale Territory in July 2014, [T3 Colonel]

Trigger Violation: Abduction

One third – 34% - of all children recruited by NDC-Rénové became associated with the group via abduction.

This was on the higher end of the spectrum, closely trailing frontlines. One 16-year-old boy was abducted and, within hours, FRPI and Nyatura for highest percentage of children abducted. was sprayed with magical “mayi mayi” (water) medicine and Abductions increased significantly in 2017, the same year that marched toward the front. 760 In a different case, NDC-Rénové NDC-Rénové began imprisoning children more regularly for elements abducted a 14-year-old boy and forced him to show petty crimes or not paying taxes. NDC-Rénové was documented the location of a nearby Nyatura hideout. Having marked their as abducting children from schools and hospitals, like the target, the elements refused to allow the boy to return home 10-year-old boy abducted from Kibila Primary School in Kigoma, and inducted him into the group.761 Walikale Territory in June 2014, or the 14-year-old girl visiting her sick mother in Kasugho hospital. 757 In one rare case, a boy was targeted for abduction by another child associated with the group. Sent by a neighbor to the corner Early on, in 2014 and 2015, NDC-Rénové (at the time breaking for an avocado, a 14-year-old boy was followed by another boy away from NDC-Cheka) employed FDLR FOCA’s model of in NDC-Rénové, who, unbeknownst to the first boy, was carrying pillage-abduct-porter, frequently combining looting raids a concealed weapon. After walking a kilometer together, the with child abductions. In a typical case, a 16-year-old boy was boy in NDC-Rénové disclosed his affiliation, brandished his gun harvesting manioc with his aunt when NDC-Rénové elements and abducted the boy, presenting him to his commander as a demanded their crop and forced the boy to carry the sacks new follower.762 of manioc to their camp, telling his aunt that if she protested they would shoot her on the spot.758 Unlike FDLR FOCA, which often abducted both children and adults together, NDC-Rénové predominantly targeted teenagers for abduction and portering, disregarding or killing adults who happened to be present.759 Occasionally, NDC-Rénové abducted boys and forced them to porter ammunition and other baggage straight to the

P. 148 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: NDC-Rénové

Re-Recruitment

Like other armed groups operating in Eastern DRC, NDC-Rénové was known to re-recruit children at the relatively low rate of 2% of all children recruited.

As was common in North Kivu, NDC-Rénové was often one of Re-recruitment by NDC-Rénové commanders was remarkably multiple armed groups through which children would cycle. For precise, pointing to the close tabs that commanders kept on instance, a boy was first abducted in 2010 at age 11 by FDLR both their child soldiers and the communities they came from. FOCA. After suffering severe torture, including burning both of Commanders re-recruited escaped children from the same his hands, the boy escaped and joined Rayia Mutomboki. Two village in which they were first recruited three years earlier, or years later, the boy escaped, joined NDC-Cheka, and fought re-recruited them within days of reuniting with their families.764 against FDLR, FARDC, Mayi Mayi Simba and Pareco. When the group split in 2014, the child remained with NDC-Rénové under Guidon’s command.763

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II. DURING: AGE GENDER NATIONALITY IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A AGE GENDER NATIONALITY IN THE FIRSTHALF YEAR OF THE AND MILITIA’S A HALF EXISTENCE,OF THE MILITIA’S NDC-RÉNOVÉ LIFE INSIDE NDC-RÉNOVÉ EXISTENCE, WAS NDC-RÉNOVÉ THE THIRD HIGHEST WAS THECHILD THIRD RECRUITER HIGHEST IN THE CHILD RECRUITERDRC SINCE 2014IN THE AND THE DRC SINCENUMBER 2014 ONEAND RECRUITERTHE NUMBEROF ONE CHILDREN RECRUITER IN 2017: 370 150 150 OF CHILDRENCHILDREN IN 2017: (58 370GIRLS, 312 SUPPORT ROLES Support CHILDRENBOYS) (58 AND GIRLS, 264 312 CHILDREN Combatants BOYS) (25AND GIRLS, 264 CHILDREN 239 BOYS) WERE 120 120 COMBATANTS (25 GIRLS,RECRUITED 239 BOYS) BY WERE THE MILITIA RECRUITED INBY 2017 THE ANDMILITIA 2016, THE PROFILE OF A CHILD RECRUITED BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ FROM 2014-2017 IN 2017 AND 2016, RESPECTIVELY. 90 90 RESPECTIVELY. 49% 60 60 OF CHILDREN USED IN COMBATANT ROLES BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ

NUMBER OF CHILDREN 28% 12% 2% #1 16430 30 28% 12% 2% #1 RECRUIT 164CHILDREN RECRUITED WERE UNDER WERE GIRLS ARE FOREIGN BORN RECRUITER IN CHILDREN RECRUITEDSINCE 2014 WERE UNDER15 YEARS OLD WERE GIRLS ARE FOREIGN BORN ER 2017IN SINCE 2014 15 YEARS OLD 2017WITH 0 2014 2015 2016 2017 WITH370 NDC-RÉNOVÉ AVERAGE % OF CHILD COMBATANTS 370 CHILD COMBATANTS 2014 2015 2016 2017 CHILDRE FROM ALL TOP CHILD RECRUITMENT BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ CHILDREN NDC-RÉNOVÉ 7 PERPETRATORS N CHILD SUPPORT ROLES RECRUITRECRUIT ED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED ED BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ OF ALL CHILDREN TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL OF ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED IN THE 1500 TREND OF CHLD RECRUITMENT BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ RECRUITEDDRC AREIN THE RECRUITED DRC AREBY RECRUITED NDC-RÉNOVÉ ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ 1200 IN THE DRC

900

73% 600 OF GIRLS SURVIVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017

NUMBER OF CHILDREN 2014 2015 2016 2017 2014 2015 2016 2017 IN NDC-RÉNOVÉ 300

2014 2015 2016 2017

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE 0 IN NDC-RÉNOVÉ AGAINST GIRLS 2014 2015 2016 2017 FROM ALL TOP 7

FENSE The Girls & Boys Recruited by NDC-RénovéC DE HNI ET ECTION 5% E/ ROT NG F-P C OFDespite CHILDREN being the last of the top seven perpetratorsE EL ofON childOMI recruitment in the DRC since 2014, NDC- EV S EC SURVIVE SEXUAL R 8% 0% URE % 1 4 ESS VIOLENCERénové’s IN recruitment of at least 164 children,7 including PR 20 girls, displayed an upward trend. ER NDC-RÉNOVÉ PE Y/ IL M The increase in child recruitment in 2015 may be linked toA a key Age F growth period for NDC-Rénové during its split from NDC-Cheka% 7 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 4 On average 28% of all children recruited by NDC-Rénové were BOTH fromBOYS AND late GIRLS 2014 IN NDC-RÉNOVÉ to 2016, which saw as much as 75% growth in younger than 15 years old, however this figure dropped from fighters and weapons. 2017 represented a consolidation phase ABDUCTED OVER TIME 56% in 2014 to 17% in 2017. BY YEAR for the group, ratherABDUCTED than its earlier OVER expansion, TIME hence a levelling- BY YEAR off in the numbers of children recruited. Finally, the charges levied against Cheka, including child recruitment, as well as Gender engagement from MONUSCO may have also discouraged child Girls made up approximately 12% of all children documented recruitment as the group attempted to lower the risk of an as recruited by NDC-Rénové, with this percentage increasing in arrest warrant being issued against Guidon. CHILDREN ABDUCTED2017 to 20% of all children recruited by the group. Nevertheless, 80 BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ 80 CHILDREN ABDUCTED 400 400 80 BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ given the barriers to girls’ disclosure of association with armed 80 Abducted400 400 Zero 70 70 Abducted 350 350 Zero 70 groups and350 anecdotal350 evidence from senior NDC-Rénové Recruited 70 Recruited 60 60 300 300 60 commanders that girls were “wives” of combatants, this figure is 60 300 300 50 50 considered to significantly250 250 underrepresent the actual presence 50 50 250 250 40 40 of girls in NDC-Rénové.200 200 40 40 200 200 30 30 150 150 30 150 30 150 CHILDREN RECRUITED 20 20 100 100 BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN CHILDREN RECRUITED 20 20 100 100 BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF CHILDREN 10 10 50 50 10 10 50 50

0 2016 2017 0 2016 2017 0 2016 2017 0 2016 2017

2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017

P. 150 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017

NDC-Rénové

FRPI

Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Rayia Mutomboki

Kamuina Nsapu

Nyatura

FDLR FOCA PART II: NDC-Rénové

AGE OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ FROM 2014-2017 GENDER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ FROM 2014-2017

100 100 100 100 90 90 90 90 80 80 80 80 70 70 70 70 % % 60 6060 60 60 60

50 5050 50 50 50

40 4040 40 40 40

30 PERCENTAGE 3030 PERCENTAGE 30 PERCENTAGE 30 PERCENTAGE 30 % % 25 25 20 2020 20 20 2020 20 15 15 10 1010 10 10 1010 10 5 5 0 0 0 0

2014 20142015 20152016 20162017 2017 20142014 2014201420152015 2015201520162016 2016201620172017 20172017

2014 2014% OVER2015 15 % OVER2015 201615% UNDER 15 2016% UNDER2017 15 2017 % BOYS % BOYS % GIRLS % GIRLS

Life for Children Inside NDC-Rénové

Initiation Rites & Daily Life Role: Combatant

Like Mayi Mayi Mazembe and Kamuina Nsapu, magic was Half (49%) of all children recruited by NDC-Rénové saw combat, central to NDC-Rénové’s initiation of children recruited into its with those recruited in 2014 to 2016 more likely to have fought ranks. Children, especially those who joined voluntarily, were than those recruited in 2017, when combatant status among welcomed by a ceremony in which traditional medicine and children dropped. This is the second highest rate of child witchcraft played a central role. If a child was destined to be an combatants among top perpetrators in the East, following Mayi escort or combatant, he or she would also be tattooed.765 For Mayi Mazembe. child combatants, this was followed by military training lasting from two days to one month.766 Children learned to assemble In contrast to Mayi Mayi Mazembe, which almost exclusively and disassemble weapons, fire rounds in target practice, used boys to fight, NDC-Rénové recruited both boys and girls and were led through military drills.767 Sometimes senior to serve as combatants. Girls associated with NDC-Rénové were commanders served as drill sergeants, with one 16-year-old boy frequently subjected to multiple violations, like the 15-year- who volunteered in January 2016 stating that he was trained for old girl recruited in July 2017 in Mbwavinywa, Lubero Territory one month by Guidon, and a pair of boys, aged 15 and 17, trained who was a domestic, a combatant and was raped by her in Lubero in 2016 by [T5] Tondeuse, one of Guidon’s right-hand commander.774 Another girl, age 17, was abducted from a funeral men.768 The level of training children received appeared to be in January 2017 and forced to carry stolen good to an NDC- a function of immediate operational needs, with one 14-year- Rénové camp, where she received one month of military training. old boy reporting that he was given a gun without any training When she was not being used as a sex slave by her commander “because [he] arrived at a good moment when they needed and other elements, the girl fought Mayi Mayi Mazembe and new elements.”769 FARDC in Mabambi, Kayambe, Vuyinga and Kanana under [Colonel, Commander of the 3rd Brigade] Kamutoto. During her Depending on their location, children reported living in camps last battle, the girl was four months pregnant, but that ended ranging from 60 elements of which 50% were children, including when she was shot in the stomach, leaving visible scars from her four girls between the ages of 14 and 17, to 100 elements, 25% of treatment in an NDC-Rénové camp.775 which were estimated to be children.770 In 2017, one 17-year-old boy estimated that, in 2017, NDC-Rénové was made up of 500 Children recounted fighting on NDC-Rénové’s side when elements, 65% of which he estimated to be boys.771 Guidon split from Cheka in 2014 and in subsequent battles in 2015 and 2016.776 The same was true for children who fought Camp life entailed hardship, with a 14-year-old abducted boy in battles when Guidon’s former deputy Mandaima broke off describing “extraordinary suffering,” including hunger, poor from NDC-Rénové in 2017. For instance, a 13-year-old boy who sanitary conditions, and forced labor. 772 Children also described was originally recruited by NDC-Rénové sided with Mandaima severe ill treatment, like the 13-year-old boy beaten on his back during the split, fighting against his former comrades in NDC- by [T2 Colonel] Bonheur for refusing to go to the river to collect Rénové.777 water and the 12-year-old boy who disclosed euphemistically that he “submitted to violations by the Chief [Guidon].”773

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IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A HALF OF THE MILITIA’S EXISTENCE, NDC-RÉNOVÉ WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST CHILD RECRUITER IN THE % OF RECRUITS THROUGH ABDUCTION DRC SINCE 2014 AND THE % UNDER AGE 15 NUMBER ONE RECRUITER OF CHILDREN IN 2017: 370 CHILDREN (58 GIRLS, 312 BOYS) AND 264 CHILDREN (25 GIRLS, 239 BOYS) WERE RECRUITED BY THE MILITIA % OF RECRUITS THROUGH ABDUCTION IN 2017 AND 2016, RESPECTIVELY.

100 TOTAL RECRUITS 90 % ABDUCTED 80 70 % 60 60 PART II: NDC-Rénové 50 50

40 40

30 PERCENTAGE 30

20 20

10 10

0 Role: Support In addition to NDC-Cheka, children fought against FDLR 2014 2015 2016 2017 778 779 780 FOCA, Mayi Mayi Simba , Nyatura , and Mayi Mayi For the 51% of children associated with NDC-Rénové who 2014 2015 2016 2017 781 782 Mazembe using AK-47s, Uzis, and PKMs. A 15-year- did not fight, life inside the group consisted of laboring old boy admitted to killing a man in battle, saying that as porters, food collectors, spies, cooks, secretaries, and, 783 he “died on the spot.” Like children recruited by FRPI, for younger boys and girls, fétisheurs.786 A common role children in NDC-Rénové spoke of an apparently well- was “food supplier,” a euphemism for being charged with organized force, including clear chains of command looting neighboring farms to feed his unit.787 Girls played 784 and battalion structures. Children were included in traditionally feminine support roles, most frequently as this chain of command, taking on leadership roles when cooks, laundresses, or nannies, confirming the presence % OF RE-RECRUITS AGAINST TOTAL CHILDREN necessary. In one case, a 13-year-old boy, recruited in of babies and very young children in NDC-Rénové 2014 in Walikale, was placed in charge of S5 Operations camps.788 for his unit when the officer in charge was killed during fighting.785 Semi-combatant roles in whichFIRST RECRUITMENT children were exposed FIRST RECRUITMENT 600 to but did not participate in combat were common, like RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED 500 the 15-year-old boy combatant who reported that two

400 12-year-old girls were assigned to his unit of combatants 2014 2015 2016 2017 to guard the fetishes.789 Another 16-year-old boy boasted 300 that because he was an assistant of a fétisheur, he was 200 allowed near the frontlines, carrying the fetishes.790 100 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 Like Rayia Mutomboki, NDC-Rénové employed a 3% 2% 7% 16% 2014 2015 2016 2017 promotion system for new recruits, moving them from RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED RE-RECRUITED decidedly supporting roles to semi-combatant roles and eventually to combatant. One 17-year-old boy, who was abducted in 2016, was first used as a domestic, before being tattooed and becoming an escort. 791 Notably, senior commanders were directly implicated in the use of children in support roles.792 % COMBATANTS

CHILDREN’S ROLES IN NDC-RÉNOVÉ FROM 2014-2017 CHILDREN’S ROLES IN NDC-RÉNOVÉ OVER TIME

150 150 SUPPORT ROLES Support

Combatants 120 120 COMBATANTS 100 90 90 90 49% 80 60 60 70 OF CHILDREN USED IN % COMBATANT ROLES BY 60 60 NDC-RÉNOVÉ 50 30 NUMBER OF CHILDREN 30 50 40 40 30

PERCENTAGE 30 200 20 2014 2015 2016 2017 10 10 NDC-RÉNOVÉ AVERAGE % OF CHILD COMBATANTS CHILD COMBATANTS0 FROM ALL TOP 2014 2015 2016 2017 NDC-RÉNOVÉ 7 PERPETRATORS 2014 2015 2016 2017 CHILD SUPPORT ROLES

2014 % SUPPORT2015 % COMBATANTS2016 2017 TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDTOTAL 1500 TREND OF CHLD RECRUITMENT BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ

ALL CHILDREN RECRUITED 1200 IN THE DRC

900

73% 600 OF GIRLS SURVIVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE

IN NDC-RÉNOVÉ NUMBER OF CHILDREN 300

2014 2015 2016 2017

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AVERAGE % OF AGAINST GIRLS SEXUAL VIOLENCE 0 IN NDC-RÉNOVÉ AGAINST GIRLS 2014 2015 2016 2017 FROM ALL TOP 7

FENSE P. 152 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATICC D REPUBLICE OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 HNI ET ECTION 5% E/ ROT NG F-P C OF CHILDREN E EL ONOMI EV S EC SURVIVE SEXUAL R 8% 0% URE % 1 4 ESS VIOLENCE IN 7 PR ER NDC-RÉNOVÉ PE Y/ IL M A F % 7 SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST 4 BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS IN NDC-RÉNOVÉ

NDC-Rénové

FRPI

Mayi Mayi Mazembe

Rayia Mutomboki

Kamuina Nsapu

Nyatura

FDLR FOCA PART II: NDC-Rénové

Violations Triggered by Child Recruitment: The Risks Children Faced in NDC-Rénové

Seventy-five percent of all girls recruited by NDC-Rénové were subjected to sexual violence, including every single girl recruited in 2017. This is the third highest rate of sexual violence against girls by the top perpetrators, following FRPI and Nyatura.

Sexual Violence Killing & Maiming

Girls were used as “wives” of NDC-Rénové combatants, Children in NDC-Rénové reported witnessing the deaths although not as commonly as FRPI. For instance, a 13-year-old and injuries of their friends on the battlefield, however these girl was forced to marry her brother’s friend when her brother fatalities were reported less frequently than did children died in battle.793 Another girl, age 16, acted both as “wife” and recruited by other top perpetrators. Nevertheless, examples escort to her “husband.”794 Other girls were forced to sexually do exist. For instance, a 16-year-old boy reported watching two service multiple elements, like the 13-year-old girl recruited by children die fighting FDLR FOCA in Katobo and Ihula, Walikale [Colonel] Shetushe in November 2015 to sexually service the Territory in 2016.797 60 elements in her camp, including about 20 boys.795 One girl, age 16, was abducted in 2017, raped repeatedly by to two senior commanders, [Colonel] Ushindi and [Colonel, Commander of the 3rd Brigade] Kamutoto.796

One boy also disclosed surviving sexual violence while associated with NDC-Rénové. While no other cases were documented, it is suspected that this boy was not alone and that other boys may have been raped as well, but who, for reasons of shame and stigma, did not report their experiences to child protection staff.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS RECRUITED BY NDC-RÉNOVÉ

12 12 All Girls 10 10 Girl Survivors of Sexual Violences

8 8

6 6

4 4 NUMBER OF GIRLS

2 2

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

ALL GIRLS GIRL SURVIVORS OF 2014 RECRUITED2015 SEXUAL2016 VIOLENCE AND2017 RECRUITMENT

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 153 67% 8% 9% 13%

Released

Arrested

Escaped

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED 120 ABDUCTED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED

100 TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED 80 60

60 4050 30 40 TOTAL NUMBER OF 20 CHILDREN RECRUITED 10 TREND LINE 2% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 RELEASED NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017 2014 2015 2016 2017 3% OTHER

Other

Released

Arrested

Escaped

600 TOTAL CHILDREN 500 ESCAPED SEPARATED TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASEDPART II: NDC-Rénové 500 RECRUITED 400 ARRESTED 400 Other

Released 300 300 Arrested Escaped 200 200 III. AFTER: 100 Other NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100 HOW CHILDREN WERE SEPARATEDSurrendered 2014 2015 2016 2017 % 0.40 Released FROM NDC-RÉNO0.35VÉ 2014 2015 2016 2017 0.30 0.25 0.20 Arrested 0.15 0.10 0.05 Escaped 0.00 2014 2015 2016 2017 AVERAGE AMONG TOP 7 NDC-RÉNOVÉ PERPETRATORS 79% ESCAPED ESCAPED ARRESTED 600 RELEASED 9% 500 SURRENDERED SURRENDERED 400 ER TH UNDETERMINED O 22% % 3 KAMUINA 300 NSAPU OF CHILDREN IN D E R E NDC-RÉNOVÉ D HOW 200 N 7% E R RELEASED R U

CHIDLREN 1006 % 7

3 %

1 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

LEFT

D 0

E E

D S

A 2014 2015 2016 2017

E NDC-

NDC-RÉNOVÉ SOUGHT

ARRESTED

D RÉNOVÉ

E MONUSCO BASE

AVERAGE OF R

ALL PERPETRATORS

OTHER

15% OF CHILDREN IN NDC-RÉNOVÉESCAPED NDC-RÉNOVÉ TO MONSUCO BASES HOW CHILDREN LEFT NDC-RÉNOVÉ OVER TIME AVERAGE OF TOP 7 PERPETRATORS 50 50

Surrendered

Released 40 40 Arrested

Escaped

30 30

20 20 NUMBER OF CHILDREN

10 10

0 2014 2015 2016 2017

2014ESCAPED 2015ARRESTED 2016RELEASED SURRENDERED2017

P. 154 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 67% 8% 9% 13%

Released

Arrested

Escaped

TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITEDABDUCTED 120 ABDUCTED TOTAL CHILDREN RECRUITED

100 TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN RECRUITED 80 60

60 4050 30 40 TOTAL NUMBER OF 20 CHILDREN RECRUITED 10 TREND LINE 2% NUMBER OF CHILDREN 20 RELEASED NUMBER OF CHILDREN

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 20142014 20152015 20162016 20172017 2014 2015 2016 2017 PART II: NDC-Rénové 3% OTHER

Other

Released Escape

Arrested Of all the children documented as recruited NDC-Rénové, 79% ultimately left the group by escaping, the Escaped third highest rate of escape among the top perpetrators.

500 600 TOTAL CHILDREN ESCAPEDWhy Children Escaped NDC-Rénové SEPARATEDHow Children Escaped from NDC-Rénové TOTAL CHILDREN RELEASED 500 RECRUITED 400 ARRESTEDThe reasons that pushed children to escape ranged from the Children seized opportune moments to escape, including while 400 Other difficult living conditions in the bush to receiving death threats collecting water, buying the commander his daily cigarettes, or 798 804 Released 300 from inside the group.300 when girls’ “husbands” died on the battlefield. In one case, Arrested a 13-year-old boy escaped from Kinohimba, Walikale Territory, Escaped 200 200 Hardship in the bush often combined with disillusionment from when his commander demobilized and decided to work as a unpaid salaries to100 encourage children’s escape.799 One boy teacher.Other805 Children escaped together, like the 13-year-old NUMBER OF CHILDREN 100 escaped NDC-Rénové a year after volunteering, having decided sex slave Surrenderedwho escaped with another girl, or the two boys who that “my suffering as an [armed2014 group]2015 element was2016 bigger 2017were abducted together and who abandoned the ammunition than my suffering in civilian life.” However, his community they were carryingReleased and escaped during a FARDC attack in 2014 2015 2016 viewed2017 him as a “deserter” and did not understand why he left September 2017.806 Arrested NDC-Rénové.800 Fifteen percent of Escapedall children recruited by NDC-Rénové

In a sign of the impact of NGO partner awareness-raising, at least AVERAGEescaped directly to MONUSCO. Boys in particular approached AMONG TOP 7 NDC-RÉNOVÉ one 15-year-old boy decided to escape after hearing an NGO’s PERPETRATORSMONUSCO bases in Pinga, Mpofi, and Walikale Centre, Walikale awareness-raising messages79% discouraging child recruitment.801 Territory.807 In someESCAPED cases, children would escape following NGO ESCAPED awareness-raisingARRESTED and then receive transport assistance from Power struggles inside9% NDC-Rénové also prompted children to MONUSCO troopsRELEASED to reach Mubambiro DDR camp where they escape, likeSURRENDERED the 15-year-old boy who fled a fight among the could be documentedSURRENDERED by MONUSCO CPS and access UNICEF 808 ER escorts of his commander, or the 15-year-oldTH boy who left when partners. ChildrenUNDETERMINED also escaped NDC-Rénové to FARDC, like O 22% % 3

802 OF CHILDREN IN commanders’ personal conflicts started affecting morale. the 16-year-old boy who escaped from Muna in December 2015 D E R E NDC-RÉNOVÉ D HOW 809 N Ethnic attacks7% within the group E also forced some children to and approached FARDC in Kibua, Walikale Territory. R RELEASED R U

CHIDLREN 6 % 7

3 flee, like the 14-year-old Hutu boy who escaped after suffering%

LEFT P

discrimination, or the 17-year-oldD sex slave and combatant who NGO awareness-raising targeting Walikale Territory was

E E

D S

E NDC-

escaped when she heard that theR group would be cleansed of effective, as reported by numerous children who either fled

NDC-RÉNOVÉ

ARRESTED803

D RÉNOVÉ

all Nandes. E directly or were referred to child protection partners by siblings, T

AVERAGE OF R

% 810

ALL PERPETRATORS

parents, former child soldiers or local chiefs. For instance, a

13-year-old girl, once used as a sex slave, was directed by other former child soldiers to a local child protection NGO in January 2017, while a 14-year-old boy was accompanied to a CTO by his village chief.811 15% OF CHILDREN IN The impact of endemic internal displacement in areas of North NDC-RÉNOVÉESCAPED TO MONSUCO BASES NDC-RÉNOVÉ Kivu was also apparent, affecting where children escaped to, AVERAGE OF TOP 7 PERPETRATORS and whether or not they found their families in the place they once called home. For instance, a 13-year-old girl who was used as a “wife” by her brother’s friend, escaped “the bad life” in NDC-Rénové and went to find her family in Kalembe, Masisi Territory. But her family had been displaced and was not to be found in Kalembe, forcing the child to approach an NGO for assistance in tracing her family.812

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 155 PART II: NDC-Rénové

Surrender

One in ten children recruited by NDC-Rénové surrendered to FARDC, the highest rate of the top perpetrators in the East, suggesting that children feel secure they will not be arrested.

For Instance, on 17-year-old boy approached FARDC in Ruenda, old boy, first abducted into the group in 2015 and used as a Lubero Territory, handed over his ammunition and surrendered combatant, walked 10 minutes from his unit’s camp to surrender in 2017. 813 Another boy surrendered during a clash against to the FARDC Regiment Commander in Butembo, who FARDC in Kasugho in 2015.814 To illustrate the proximity of welcomed him.815 NDC-Rénové and FARDC camps: In September 2017, a 14-year-

Release

From 2014 to 2017, NDC-Rénové commanders voluntarily released 7% of the children they recruited.

In late 2017, NDC-Rénové appeared to be responsive to direct NDC-Rénové was known to accept ransoms paid by desperate engagement by MONUSCO CPS, releasing at least 4 boys whose parents, like the 15-year-old girl who was released in exchange commander gave them 100,000CF (124USD) to “return to their for a goat and 50kg of flour.819 Some commanders drove hard families to continue their studies.”816 This cautious progress was bargains, with one commander rejecting a first offer of four independently reported by at least four boys, ages 15-16, and goats and settling for 100USD.820 However, not all commanders their parents in Kasugho, Lubero Territory in February 2018.817 were persuaded. One boy’s commander categorically rejected Like in other armed groups, girls were more likely to be released his parents’ offer of 100USD and two goats, and moved camp so than were boys, with approximately 16% of girls recruited by that the boy’s parents could no longer find him.821 NDC-Rénové ultimately being released by their commanders.

More frequently, children were released for medical reasons, like the 14-year-old boy who became very sick one year after being recruited and received his colonel’s authorization for medical leave. Upon his recovery, the boy decided not to join up again, preferring to stay in his community. However, without an attestation de sortie, he was worried about being re-recruited.818

Arrest & Capture

Second to Nyatura, NDC-Rénové had the lowest rate of arrest or capture of child soldiers, with just 5% leaving the group in this manner.

In one case that points to the complex alliances in Lubero Territory, a 16-year-old boy was captured by FARDC when he was sent with other combatants to meet a Mayi Mayi Mazembe Commander at Buleusa.822

P. 156 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 PART II: NDC-Rénové

Endnotes

724 This figure includes children recruited prior to the split 759 251505 796 272021 with NDC-Cheka who remained among NDC-Rénové’s elements. 760 260753, see also 180759 797 228988, see also 230549

725 159862, 259861 761 237288 798 206660

726 238482 762 237565 799 256847

727 189353, see also 249701 763 149460 800 260678

728 238482 764 256598, 204421 801 248027

729 248182 765 228441, 256630 802 237558, 238471, see also 250844

730 236603, see also 237556 766 245485, 219954, 251515 803 238483, 256466

731 238471, see also 159459, 219954 767 248341 804 237288, 237565, 249701

732 228441 768 230549, 238324 805 159306

733 203298, see also 203300 769 237556 806 230583

734 238482 770 135947, 230158, 159864, 204337 807 121478, 135947, 159863

735 197776 771 256543 808 248050

736 260495 772 237557 809 159459

737 219944 773 230547, 237514, see also 248329, 230583 810 159912, 180759

738 189363 774 246820 811 230583, 237557, see also 249701

739 236604 775 254761, see also 256466 812 206660

740 248050 776 159459, 159338, 149460, 202605, 202600 813 245727, see also 247593, 247594

741 219960 777 267912 814 251505, see also 256542

742 235604 778 121478, 202600 815 251515

743 219956 779 248027 816 272066

744 256542 780 245624, 251463 817 272066, 272067, 272069, 272073

745 238462 781 247630, 251463 818 260665

746 204326 782 159306 819 237442

747 237442 783 248050 820 262120

748 189093 784 159459, 245494 821 238480

749 260665 785 159306 822 228441

750 256542 786 248182, 237288

751 237557, 248341 787 159864

752 251513, 266207 788 189353, 189565

753 238467, see also 238482 789 256542

754 262120 790 260495

755 237629 791 260487, see also 236604

756 260753, 202600, 230547, 244059, 247748, 202605, 792 266207 245727, 247593, 159459 793 206660 757 135947, 272030 794 249701, see also 130254, 230158, 235604 758 238480, see also 248027, 159863, 159864 795 230583, see also 254761, 256466

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 157 P. 158 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 Conclusion & Recommendations

CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS

After absorbing the breadth, depth and complexity of child recruitment in the DRC, we are left with these lessons:

• Child Recruitment Entails Complex and Compounding Violations: Child recruitment is neither a single nor a short-lived violation. It rarely occurs alone but child recruitment is the nexus at the center of other violations. Abduction, sexual violence, killing and maiming, and attacks on schools and hospitals merge, trigger and compound each other.

• Targeted Communication with Armed Groups Can Ebb the Tide: Armed groups are not one and the same. They employ different modus operandi to recruit children and justify it by different logic. Children themselves choose to join armed groups for different reasons. Effective communication requires the UN to target its messages carefully based on the data it collects to correspond to the diverse ways and reasons that armed groups recruit children. Armed with this information, the UN is in a stronger position to engage with individual commanders to secure their commitment to end child recruitment across the DRC.

• Prosecution of Perpetrators Can Send a Powerful Prevention Message: Children regularly name both their individual recruiter, commander and commander’s commander, up the chain of command. High-level prosecutions of perpetrators of child recruitment can and should be regularly on the docket of Congolese Military Prosecutors. With protections in place for child victims and witnesses, such prosecutions work as a powerful disincentive to other armed group commanders, who reportedly closely watch the arrests and upcoming trials of their peers and rivals, such as Ntabo Ntaberi Cheka, former commander of NDC-Cheka now facing charges of child recruitment.

Taking on board these lessons, we can and must take targeted and strategic action. We recommend:

The Government of the DRC:

Armed group commanders:

• Publicly express your commitment to ending and prevent all grave violations against children, including but not limited to child recruitment and use, and swiftly develop, adopt and implement action plans in line with UN Security Council resolutions 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), and subsequent resolutions.

Donors:

• Commit necessary funds to support holistic and sustainable child demobilization and reintegration, and the fight against impunity for perpetrators of child recruitment and use.

• Support designated child protection capacity in MONUSCO, including via secondment.

“OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017 P. 159 Acknowledgments

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report would not have been possible without the commitment and years of hard work of the MONUSCO Child Protection staff, who interviewed and referred thousands of children to care over the years. Likewise, we are indebted to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Leila Zerrougui, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Operations and Rule of Law David Gressly and Chief Child Protection Dee Brillenburg Wurth for their support.

We are grateful for the invaluable feedback from MONUSCO colleagues in the Joint Human Rights Office, the Joint Mission Analysis Centre, DDR, Legal Affairs, and the Office of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Operations and Rule of Law. Likewise, we thank the staff at DPKO DPET, OCHA, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, UNICEF, and War Child UK for their review of and feedback on earlier versions of this report. We must also thank all of the staff of UNICEF partners who document and provide transitional care to children formerly associated with armed groups in the DRC every day.

We are particularly grateful to Helen Gibson, who designed this report, and to Hanna Maalej, Camille Delbourgo, and Nicole Fenwick for their assistance with its translation.

We would like to also extend our thanks to the members of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Joint Technical Working Groups, both at national and provincial- levels, whose work ensures that children affected by conflict are taken into consideration and protected by each Ministry and State security forces.

Above all, we thank the children who bravely recounted their experiences of child recruitment for sharing their stories, which we attempted to honor in this report.

This report was researched and written by Lili Birnbaum, Child Protection Officer at MONUSCO.

P. 160 “OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR YOUTH”: CHILD RECRUITMENT AND USE BY ARMED GROUPS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, 2014 – 2017

“Our Strength Is In Our Youth”: Child Recruitment and Use by Armed Groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2014 – 2017