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Jon I. Sanders
Mr. Jackson
Language Arts/Social Studies
30 April 2013
The Struggle
Child Soldiers in Sudan have to deal with atrocities such as drugs, killing, and much
more. My Research paper is about Child Soldiers in Sudan. This is a very interesting and
unbelievable topic, because the way they torture the children and treat them with no respect is
ridiculous. But there are some happy parts to this because of the lives that some of these people
had once they grew up and some are now in the United States.
Any boy or girl under the age of 18 in Sudan could be forced to join the military. These
children may have to do any type of military job, not just carrying weapons but other jobs like,
cleaning, and gathering water to bring back to the rest of the group ("What is Happening to Child
Soldiers in Uganda?"). Most of the child soldiers are coming from Africa and most of them have
AID's or some disease and their parents don’t want them so they are now abandoned and then
taken by the recruiters (Henshaw).
There are as many as 6,000 child soldiers, some as young as 11 years old, in the war-torn
region of Darfur, the head of Unicef in Sudan says. In Africa where they have child soldiers, they
make them smoke marijuana and drink alcohol so the kids will be fearless. They are also taken
from their parents. After a Sudanese woman has a baby, she usually does not leave the house or
do any work for 40 days ("Sudanese Union Fights for Women’s Rights » Oxfam News Blog").
During the civil war, young children were snatched from their families at the height of the
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fighting and used as soldiers. Today, many have been dismissed from duty, and even though the
killing is over, the impact of war remains fresh in their minds. They are lost, scared and cannot
find their parents. SOS Children set up an Emergency Relief program to support these child
soldiers, many of whom are now young adults, and give them back their lives and their families.
Some children have already been reunited with their family members and others are being
supported to be reintegrated into their home communities.
The young people - mostly boys, but some girls - are now undertaking vocational courses
including car mechanics, carpentry, electrics, plumbing, construction and sewing at the SOS
training centre, or have been enrolled at school. One of the older former child soldiers has just
entered university. The United States established political relations with Sudan in 1956,
following its independence from joint management by Egypt and the United Kingdom. Sudan
broke political relations with the U.S. in 1967 after the start of the Arab-Israeli War.
Relations were re-established in 1972. In the 1990s, Sudan’s Islamist regime’s links with
international terrorist organizations led to the country’s 1993 name as a state sponsor of terrorism
and the delay of U.S. Embassy operations in 1996. The U.S. Embassy was re-opened in 2002.
Sudan has provided concrete cooperation against international terrorism since the September 11,
2001 terrorist strikes against the United States ("Sudan"). Sudanese cuisine is as diverse as its
geography and cultures.
Central Sudan is perhaps the region that is the most diversified and colorful in its cuisine and
dietary habits. The main staple of the Sudanese is a special type of bread called Kissra, which is
made of durra or corn, Kissra is taken together with a stew whose main components are dried
meat, dried onions, spices, peanut butter, and milk. These stews are accompanied with porridge
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(Asseeda), which is made with wheat flour or corn. Soups are an important component of the
Sudanese food, the most popular are Kawari', which is made of cattle's or sheep's hoofs in
addition to vegetables and spices. Also there is Elmussalammiya, which is made with liver, flour,
dates and spices.
In spite of the fact that in the present, Northern Sudan is known for its simple cuisine,
wheat flour has still remained the staple food for the people of the north who use it in making
their main dish (Gourrassa).
In the east, the most popular dish is the (Moukhbaza), which is made of banana paste. This part
is greatly influenced by the Ethiopian taste and cuisine. In the west, each tribal group had
adopted different forms of food that are basically very simple. Milk and dairy products are a
fundamental component to the majority of the people.
As for the south, a popular dish is a stew named (Kajaik), which is cooked of dried fish. It
is added to the porridge, which is common throughout Sudan, (Aseeda) is made of sorghum.
Sometimes natural margarine is added to the mixture.
As for beverages, the Sudanese has several distinct beverages that are made of some fruits that
grow in Sudan like; Tabaldi, Aradaib, Karkadai and Guddaim.
In Ramadan (The Muslims' fasting month), one of their favorite drinks is the Hilumur which is
made from corn flour and spices. Also there are Aabrai Abiyad and Nashaa, which are made of
corn flour also. Sudanese people are very hospitable. Meals are eaten around a large, public tray
on which various meat, vegetable, salads, and sauce dishes are placed. These are eaten with the
right hand, using flat bread or a stiff millet porridge known as asida or kisra. ("Sudan |") The
number of conflicts worldwide may be in decline but new forms of warfare, often involving
warlords, mean that children and youth are frequently used as soldiers.
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Worldwide in over half of the states at war in 2003, there were reports of Child Soldiers
under 15. Among the reasons why children become Child Soldiers are: security, protection, food,
boredom, humiliation, frustration, intimidation, promises of education and employment or to
avenge the deaths of family members.
For children recruited for combat, who have missed out on schooling, education can
serve as a vital component in their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Demobilized
Child Soldiers require education programs which take into account their specific experiences of
war and prepare them for peace and reconciliation. Some may wish to resume formal education,
while others may need vocational and skills training. Significant numbers of girls are involved in
armed conflicts but few are included in demobilization programs, perhaps because of the stigma
of sexual abuse which is often prevalent in conflict.
Child Soldiers in Sudan have to deal with many things in their lives and they suffer a lot.
In my research paper I talked about what child soldiers eat, what they go through, and also jus
about Sudan in general. I like this topic because it teaches you a lot and shows you that you
should be grateful for what you have and the environment you’re in because things could be a lot
worse. Also I like this topic because it has happy parts to it also like the Lost Boys and how
some of them are now living much better lives.
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Works Cited
Amnesty International USA. "Child Soldiers." Www.amnestyusa.org. Amnesty International,
2009. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
Bindu, Lucie. "Drug Addiction Hinders Child Soldier Reintegration." Institute for War & Peace
Reporting. N.P., 25 Jan. 2010. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.
Henshaw, Amber. "BBC NEWS | Africa | Sudan 'has 6,000 Child Soldiers'" BBC News - Home.
N.P., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
Johnson, Caitlin A. "A Former Child Soldier Tells His Story." CBS NEWS. N.P., 03 June 2007.
Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
Selva, Meera. "Children of War: Africa's Civil Conflicts Harm 100,000 Young Lives." The
Independent. N.P., 18 Nov. 2004. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
"Sudan Civil War." GlobalSecurity.org - Reliable Security Information. N.P., n.d. Web. 29 Apr.
2013.
"Sudan." Scholastic, Helping Children Around the World to Read and Learn | Scholastic.com.
N.P., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
"Sudanese Union Fights for Women’s Rights » Oxfam News Blog." Oxfam GB | Leading UK
Charity Fighting Global Poverty. N.P., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
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"What Is Happening to Child Soldiers in Uganda?" BBC NEWS | News Front Page. N.P., n.d.
Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
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