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Chad: Because of poverty, children voluntarily join rebel armies as soldiers

by IRIN News

In Burundi, many former child soldiers who underwent vocational training are yet to find gainful employment or set up income-generating activities. Photo: Désiré Nimubona/IRIN

“My father is old. At home we did not have enough for everyone, so I wanted to better our situation and join the army to help my family and my mother… After one year with the armed group FSR [Front for the Salvation of the Republic], I became commander of a group of 50 fighters. Maybe I was made the commander because I am literate; I could write and read. Then I had to join the government forces when our commander… decided to join the Chadian government.”

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