A DW report says TikTok videos showing child soldiers in Sudan have gone viral, with some clips filmed by the children themselves and viewed millions of times. One video in the report shows a boy of around 12 carrying a Kalashnikov and walking through dusty streets after gunshots are heard. [1]
The report says some of the clips were filmed in Babanusa after RSF rebels captured the southern Sudanese city in early December. Bellingcat verified that some of the videos were shot directly in Babanusa, according to the report. Sebastian Vandermeersch said, "I was able to find an entire network of accounts on TikTok sharing content about child soldiers," and added, "Child soldiers as influencers are an entirely new phenomenon." [1]
The footage comes as Sudan’s war, which began three years ago, has become one of the world’s largest humanitarian disasters. The report says nearly 14 million people have been displaced, more than 4 million have fled to neighboring countries and about 34 million people rely on humanitarian aid. That is about 65% of the population, according to the figures cited. [1]
UNICEF is cited as saying around 42,000 unaccompanied children have been registered in Sudan. Kamal Eldin Bashir said, "They suffer from displacement, separation from their families, lack of education, and above all, a lack of health care, in addition to the malnutrition affecting a very large number of children," and added, "They are at risk of being recruited for the war." [1]
The report says the RSF maintains large numbers of child soldiers. Mohamed Othman said, "They are deployed in various roles, for example, at roadblocks, but also for espionage." It adds that using children under 15 in war is a war crime under the Rome Statute. [1]