On the occasion of International Red Hand Day (February 12), the situation is grim: in Mali, the recruitment of children by armed groups continues unabated. Despite a range of international and national legal frameworks, recent figures reveal a worrying deterioration in the protection of minors.

1. A numerical assessment showing significant improvement

The latest report from the United Nations Secretary-General (January 2025) reveals an alarming increase in violations between 2022 and 2024:

1. 1,052 verified cases of recruitment, compared to 901 in the previous period.
2. 44 children enrolled per month on average (compared to 38 previously).
3. Vulnerable profiles: While boys make up the majority, girls suffer specific forms of violence (domestic slavery, sexual violence). The age of victims varies from 4 to 17 years old .
4. Responsible parties: The list includes extremist groups (JNIM, EIGS), signatories of the former Peace Agreement, community militias and, occasionally, national defense forces.

2. A solid legal framework but fragile implementation

Mali does, however, have legal means to combat this scourge:

1. International Treaties: Accession to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 2002 Optional Protocol (prohibiting recruitment before the age of 18).
2. Domestic Law: The new Penal Code of December 2024 now criminalizes the recruitment of minors, providing for sentences of up to 10 years imprisonment .
3. UN recommendations: Antonio Guterres calls on Bamako to take a further step by adopting the Vancouver Principles to better integrate child protection into security strategies.

3. The roots of the problem: Why does recruitment persist?

The law clashes with a devastating socio-economic reality. Recruitment is not only forced; it is often the result of desperation.

"When schools disappear, the risk of collapse increases."

1. School collapse: With 1,788 schools closed due to safety concerns, children are losing their main line of defense.
2. Economic survival: Faced with extreme poverty, joining an armed group sometimes becomes a survival strategy to obtain a meal or protect one's family.
3. Impunity: The lack of prosecutions against recruiters weakens the deterrent effect of the law.

4. The challenges of reintegration

Getting a child out of an armed group is only half the battle. Several obstacles hinder their return to a normal life:

1. Lack of funding: Reintegration programs lack the resources to offer sustainable support.
2. Stigmatization: Rejection by the community of origin often pushes the child to return to armed groups out of a sense of belonging.

Perspectives: How to reverse the trend?

According to analyst Oumar Sidibé , the solution must be multidimensional:

1. Securing schools to give young people a future.
2. Provide economic support to families to eliminate the financial incentive for recruitment.
3. Strengthening the justice system to end the feeling of impunity among warlords.

Even though the challenge remains immense, hope remains: globally, more than 16,000 children received reintegration support in 2024, proving that coordinated action can break this cycle of violence.