United States or US State Department released its 2014 Trafficking in Persons Report showing increase in child soldier recruitment in South Sudan.
US embassy in Juba on Friday noted the use and recruitment of child soldiers as a problem in South Sudan especially when the crisis began in December 2013, Bakhita Radio reported.
It condemned the practice by government and SPLM/A in opposition.
The Embassy said it is the government’s responsibility to protect children from being forced into military service.
Foreign Affairs Ministry in June 16 denounced the practice which is still continuing.
It urged both sides to take immediate steps to end the act, warning that the use of child soldiers could constitute a war crime.
The embassy said those responsible of the children recruitment into military would be accountable.
The Trafficking in Persons Report is an annual global look at the nature and scope of trafficking in persons and the broad range of government actions to confront and eliminate it.
The US administration uses the report to engage foreign governments in dialogues to advance anti-trafficking reforms and to combat trafficking and to target resources on prevention, protection and prosecution programs.