The United Nations has officially removed Somali security forces from its annual “list of shame” for the recruitment and use of child soldiers, marking a significant shift after 16 years of being cited for grave violations against children in armed conflict.
This decision reflects the implementation of a National Action Plan on child protection, which brought reforms in recruitment procedures, age verification, training, and monitoring within Somali security institutions. The delisting is widely regarded as a major achievement, with the United Nations stating,
“This is a major milestone and a significant achievement,”
highlighting the government’s sustained cooperation with UNICEF, UNSOM, and other partners in child protection reforms.
Government Reforms and Institutional Progress
The Somali government has framed the delisting as a historic milestone, emphasizing that it demonstrates the professionalism and commitment of its security forces to uphold the rule of law and international humanitarian standards.
The reforms included embedding child-rights protections in the 2024 finalization of the Provisional Constitution and new disability-rights legislation, further underlining the government’s dedication to child protection.
The Ministry of Defence has stated,
“The Somali child is not a soldier,”
reinforcing the message that child recruitment is not tolerated and that the reforms have made tangible progress in safeguarding children’s rights.
Ongoing Violations and Persistent Threats
Despite these reforms, the security situation in Somalia remains volatile, and grave violations against children continue to be widespread. According to United Nations reporting, approximately 66 percent of all verified violations in Somalia are attributed to Al-Shabaab, including recruitment, abductions, killings, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the indoctrination of children as young as eight.
“Al-Shabaab continues to wage war on children,”
said UN officials, stressing that the group’s use of child soldiers is a major obstacle to lasting peace and stability in the region. Between October 2021 and September 2024, the United Nations verified 8,493 grave violations affecting 6,801 children, with over 2,800 cases of recruitment and use, 2,500 abductions, and more than 2,100 children killed or maimed.
Continued UN Scrutiny and Broader Analysis
While Somali security forces have been delisted for recruitment and use of children, they remain listed for other grave violations, such as killing and maiming, and conflict-related sexual violence.
The United Nations Secretary-General’s CAAC report on Somalia and briefings to the Security Council highlight both the positive impact of reforms and the “alarming” levels of ongoing grave violations against children due to the volatile security situation.
The United Nations continues to call for the full implementation of the National Action Plan, stronger protection for schools and hospitals, expanded reintegration programmes, and increased international financial and technical support for child-protection systems.
Civil Society and Future Challenges
Human rights groups have long documented child recruitment and other abuses in Somalia and have pressed for tighter accountability and robust vetting of security forces.
The broader CAAC framework requires that delisting only occurs after the United Nations verifies full implementation of action-plan commitments, including ending recruitment, releasing children, preventing re-recruitment, and strengthening age-verification and oversight.
Advocates continue to warn that delisting must not lead to complacency: monitoring, transparent justice for past violations, and sustainable reintegration of former child soldiers remain critical gaps in many contexts, including Somalia.
The delisting of Somali security forces from the United Nations child soldier blacklist is a testament to the government’s commitment to reform and the protection of children’s rights. However, the ongoing threat posed by Al-Shabaab and the continued occurrence of grave violations against children highlight the complex challenges that remain.
The United Nations and its partners continue to urge the government to maintain momentum on reforms and to address the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab. The story of Somalia’s child soldiers is one of both progress and persistent struggle, reflecting the broader challenges of peace and security in a conflict-affected region.
