By Nokai Origin
A new United Nations report has warned of growing threats to children in conflict zones across West Africa, citing abductions, forced recruitment, and disruption of education as critical risks that demand immediate international intervention.
Desk: Child
Protection | Humanitarian | Conflict
Date: Monday, 9 February 2026
Time: 13:30 WAT
Location: Dakar, Senegal
According to a statement issued by the UN Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Amina Touré, children in Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger face multi-dimensional threats that compromise safety, mental health, and long-term development.
The report underscores that armed groups
increasingly exploit children as combatants, messengers, and laborers, with
profound psychosocial consequences.
The UN
office recommended that regional governments implement child-sensitive
protection frameworks, strengthen reporting and early-warning systems, and
ensure humanitarian aid reaches affected children without delay. Touré
emphasized that collaboration with local communities, civil society, and
international partners is essential for sustainable protection.
Fact-Check And Background Context
UNICEF and the UN Security Council have documented the systematic use of children in armed conflicts, noting that more than 250,000 children in West Africa are at risk of direct involvement in hostilities.
Past initiatives combining education, psychosocial support, and community engagement have proven effective in reducing recruitment and safeguarding rights.
The report calls for the expansion of regional child protection strategies, targeted rehabilitation programs for survivors, and international cooperation to monitor violations, aiming to meet Sustainable Development Goal 16.2 on ending violence against children.
🏷 Tags: Children, Conflict,
Humanitarian, WestAfrica, UN, ChildProtection
#ChildProtection #Conflict #WestAfrica #UN #ZigDiaries
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