SPLA-IO soldiers and forcibly recruited boys and youths moved out from Old Fangak in northern Jonglei on Tuesday after a recruitment campaign that may have swept up hundreds of children within the last week.

About 1000 boys and youths recruited in Old Fangak Payam left “to the bush” with rebel soldiers on Tuesday, according to a local source.

He added that rebel recruiters were also active in the other payams, indicating that the total number of new recruits could be several thousand.

With conscription efforts ongoing, all men are in danger of being forced to fight.

Sources last week reported also that massive recruitment campaigns were ongoing not only in northern Jonglei but also in rebel-controlled parts of Unity State. An eyewitness on Saturday saw hundreds of boys heading north toward the front around Bentiu.

File photo: Soldiers walk along a road near Bor, Jonglei, in early 2014 (AFP)