The Sudanese national army in Blue Nile state has allegedly been carrying out recruitment of students into the army. The army is accused of luring the students with monetary rewards in order to secure new recruits.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj yesterday from the town of Damazin, several parents and guardians expressed discontent about the recruitment efforts, saying under-aged students in big numbers were being recruited into the ranks of the Sudanese Armed Forces to fight on the Blue Nile front.

Living condition also in the state is reportedly deteriorating in the state, which makes it easy for the army to lure the students with incentives so that they turn up for registration into the army.

An uncle of some of the news recruits who preferred anonymity pointed out that most of the secondary school students in the state decided to drop out from schools and joined the army.

He said, “I have my three nephews who left the school and joined the army.”

“Of course, the high living conditions forced them to do so especially when they saw their parents were suffering, therefore, they preferred to join the military life in order to help their families.”

Another parent said, “Now I am undergoing an unbearable condition. You see, my son who was in the first year secondary school only remained two years for him to reach the university, unfortunately he recently decided to join the army.” 

File photo: SAF troops in Blue Nile