Over 400 children recruited into conflict in eastern DR Congo this year

Over 400 children from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were recruited into conflict in January and February 2025. According to a report released by Save the Children, teens as young as 14 were drafted from schools and the streets by armed non-state actors and forced into immediate danger. 

Violence in the eastern region of the country began escalating at the end of January, and UNICEF has reported that grave violations, including the recruitment and use of children in armed groups, have tripled since that time.

Sadly, this is an issue that doesn’t only effect the DRC. Investigators have pointed to an alarming increase in the use of child soldiers in conflicts around the world, and the impacts of this exploitation are devastating. 

Click on to learn more about the children who are caught in the crossfire.