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Rabat – Italian foreign press agency AISE has joined a group of activists as well as international media in denouncing child exploitation by military forces in Algeria’s Tindouf camps.
The news agency recalled the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara’s recent visit to Tindouf camps last week. The news agency said that the personal envoy, Staffan de Mistura, was welcomed by “child soldiers in military dress.”
The agency also quoted NGOs who denounced the recruitment of child soldiers by the Polisario Front, including the Network of Associations of the Moroccan Community in Italy (RACMI).
Italian media cited the coordinator of the NGO, Yassine Belkassem, who called on de Mistura to act to “guarantee the rights” of children facing military conscription in the Tindouf camps.
Photos and videos showed children and baby-faced young people wearing military uniforms during de Mistura’s visit.
When controversy emerged about child soldiers during de Mistura’s visit, the UN denied the envoy saw or identified children wearing military uniforms.
On January 17, UN spokesperson Stephan Dujarric said de Mistura “did not see everyone but certainly did not identify any child soldiers, as reported by some.”
The UN continued to receive questions about de Mistura’s visit and child soldiers despite Dujarric’ recent denial.
On January 18, a journalist pointed out that “there are pictures circulating about a child soldier in military fatigue and bulletproof vest.”
“In the light of this visual, whatever, does the Secretary-General feel that it’s perhaps maybe due to start looking into the issue of child soldiers in Tindouf?” the journalist asked.
The UN spokesperson said the UN was clear on who de Mistura “saw and what he didn’t see.” He acknowledged however that the issue of child soldiers is “an issue of concern in way too many parts of the globe.”
This is not the first time that the Polisario Front has stirred debate and controversy regarding child soldiers. Morocco has repeatedly called on the international community to intervene to end the issue.
Hashtags calling for saving children in the camps also went viral recently.
Read Also: Polisario Sparks Outrage with Deployment of Child Soldiers During De Mistura Visit
