The SSDF Cobra Faction on Saturday in Lekuangole in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area released up to 250 child soldiers. The Cobra are an armed group of mostly ethnic Murles who last year made a peace agreement with the South Sudanese national government.
UNICEF says the new release brings the number of freed children from that area to more than 1,300 since 26 January while another 400 are expected to be released over the next two days. Four of the group released on Saturday were girls, including one as young as nine.
In a formal ceremony in Lekuangole the children were demobilized by the National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission. Their weapons and uniforms were exchanged for civilian clothes. UNICEF then took responsibility for looking after the children at an interim care centre in the village, according to a press release by the UN aid agency.
Hundreds of child soldiers in other parts of South Sudan, in particular Upper Nile and Unity states, have not yet been released.
Photo 1 (above): Children line up to hand in their weapons and uniforms during a demobilization ceremony in Lekuangole, Jonglei State, South Sudan (UNICEF/Claire McKeever)
Photo 2: Weapons collected from children during a demobilization ceremony in Lekuangole, Jonglei State, South Sudan (UNICEF/Claire McKeever)
Photo 3: UNICEF Child Protection Specialist Shaun Collins talks to two of the girls released from an armed group following a demobilization ceremony in Lekuangole (UNICEF/Claire McKeever)
Photo 4: Children play volleyball in the Interim Care Centre for demobilized children in Lekuangole, Jonglei State, South Sudan. Also pictured is Child Protection Specialist Shaun Collins (UNICEF/Claire McKeever)