Nearly 90 boys kidnapped by rebels in South Sudan

A group of rebels have kidnapped at least 89 boys aged under 13 near the Malakal area in northern South Sudan.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) education support team in South Sudan said the number of children abducted could be even higher.

According to the UN, thousands of South Sudanese people have lost their homes and had to flee their country due to violence - Photo: Reuters

According to UNICEF’s education support team, the abduction took place in the Wau Shilluk community in Upper Nile State. The abducted boys were recruited to carry guns and attack their own families and communities.

UNICEF Representative in South Sudan Jonathan Veitch called on the rebels to release the abducted children, stressing that these children were suffering the terrible effects of violence as they lost their families and the opportunity to go to school.

Violence and conflict have been ongoing in South Sudan since the country declared independence from Sudan in 2011. According to the UN, thousands of South Sudanese have been displaced and displaced internally due to the violence./.

According to Vov.vn