With the help of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and UNICEF, South Sudan released child soldiers and established a policy of not recruiting children into the armed forces.

According to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), some children have recently been released from the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), demonstrating the country's efforts to end child recruitment.

To symbolize this profound transition and the opportunity for a new life for these children, an official ceremony was organized in Yambio.

“The SSPDF will not allow the recruitment of children into the army. If a child shows interest, we will instead guide them towards education. I urge institutions to fully support these children so that they do not return to the barracks,” said Brigade Akech Maker, Commander of Brigade 16, Yambio, Western Equatoria, South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).

Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration officials conduct the necessary registration and verification processes to facilitate their return to civilian life. They emphasize the importance of ongoing monitoring and care.

"We will continue to monitor that they are not there to clear our army of this list of shame that has been inflicted on it because of child recruitment and other child rights violations," said Hellen Ernasio, DDR Chairperson, Western Equatoria.

In a temporary shelter, social workers and UNICEF staff provide comprehensive psychosocial support, educational materials and personalized counseling tailored to each child's unique needs .

“We will provide psychosocial support to these children in the transit center located at the CTC, and we will also assess their skills needs or what they would like to do, formal learning or vocational training,” explained Clement Gbatanawo, Yambio, Western Equatoria, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

UNMISS will continue to monitor this reintegration process to ensure that these children are in society, and that there is no way to bring them back into the armed group or any other armed force.

The organization called on all parties to the conflict, commanders, to ensure that any child under their command is handed over to the relevant organization or entity.