7/9/2025
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Somalia removed from UN child soldier list after reforms
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    Monday June 23, 2025


    Armed Somali children take cover behind sandbags during an active conflict in Somalia in this undated photo. Somalia had long been listed by the United Nations among countries where children were recruited and used in armed conflict. The country was officially removed from the UN child soldier list in June 2025, following years of reforms and international cooperation. Getty Images / Remi Ochlik

    Mogadishu, June 23, 2025 (HOL) — The United Nations has officially removed Somalia from its list of countries implicated in the recruitment and use of child soldiers, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to comply with international child protection standards.

    The decision, announced on June 17, ends Somalia’s long-standing designation on the annual UN blacklist and follows the implementation of a national action plan to prevent the involvement of minors in armed conflict.

    “The removal from the UN list reaffirms Somalia’s dedication to upholding the Constitution and international humanitarian law,” the Ministry of Defense said in a statement. “The Somali child is not a soldier—they are the future of this nation.”

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

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

    The Ministry of Defense, which chairs the Child Protection Committee, praised both government agencies and international partners for their contributions. The committee was instrumental in drafting policies aligned with Somalia’s Constitution and international obligations, the ministry said.

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

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

    “This milestone is a testament to Somalia’s reform journey and a step forward for the credibility of its armed forces,” the ministry said.

     





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