Africa advances first continental convention on child soldiers’ disarmament and reintegration

Thursday 24 September 2026 - 15:15

By: Azzat Manal

Africa advances first continental convention on child soldiers’ disarmament and reintegration

African countries have taken a new step toward strengthening the protection of children affected by armed conflicts with the launch of the signing process for a continental convention dedicated to the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of child soldiers.

The signing phase began in New York on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Around 20 African states took part at ministerial level in a ceremony hosted by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita at Morocco’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

The convention is presented as a new African legal framework designed to strengthen cooperation between states in preventing the recruitment and exploitation of children by armed groups. It also seeks to support coordinated approaches to disarmament, demobilization and long-term reintegration, while allowing African countries to exchange experience and practical expertise.

The initiative links two major priorities: peace and security on the continent and the protection of children in situations of armed conflict. Beyond removing children from armed groups, the framework places emphasis on sustainable reintegration into communities, an approach that can include education, psychosocial support, family reunification and measures aimed at reducing stigma.

The agreement follows a process launched in Rabat in November 2025, when African countries gathered for a ministerial conference on child-focused disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. The meeting brought together 32 African delegations and resulted in the adoption of the Rabat Declaration, which called for stronger collective action to prevent child recruitment and promote sustainable reintegration.

The Rabat Declaration subsequently became a joint official document of the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council, reinforcing its place within wider international efforts to address grave violations against children in armed conflicts. The document also supported the creation of a specifically African legal instrument addressing child recruitment and reintegration.

In February 2026, African experts, academics and representatives of relevant institutions met in Rabat to follow up on the declaration and discuss the foundations of the proposed continental instrument. Discussions focused on prevention, demobilization, disarmament and reintegration, with particular attention to adapting international standards to African realities and strengthening national capacities.

The new convention is therefore intended to provide a platform for African states to share good practices, coordinate prevention policies and develop more sustainable responses for children formerly associated with armed forces or groups. Its implementation will ultimately depend on national measures, regional cooperation and the resources available for rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.

The initiative also reflects broader international efforts to eliminate the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts. The United Nations has treated the issue as a central part of its children-and-armed-conflict agenda for decades, while African governments have increasingly sought continent-specific mechanisms to address the particular security, social and humanitarian challenges faced by affected communities.