South Sudan Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (SSDDRC) announced that the children were released in Mapel after their commander Major General Hassen joined the South Sudan Armed Forces with his figghters.
SSDDRC chairperson, William Deng Deng, said the goal of his commission is to ensure that all children associated with armed forces and groups in the country are released and returned to their communities to receive reintegration assistance.
He urged all armed groups, including militias, to cooperate and integrate their forces into the national army and facilitate the immediate release of all children from their ranks.
Since the independence, the SSDDRC is working with UNICEF and some NGOs to facilitate the release and reintegration of 208 children from militia groups operating mainly in the Greater Upper Nile and Bahr-el-Ghazal States.
There are an unknown number of children still associated with armed forces and groups in South Sudan although the recruitment of children under 18 is contrary to international law.