Children Are Being Kidnapped To Fight In The Central African Republic’s Brutal War (HBO)
The Central African Republic has been in crisis since 2013 when an alliance of groups known as the Seleka, made of rebels mostly from the country’s Muslim minority, forced President Francois Bozize out of power. Today, at least 15 armed groups effectively control three-quarters of the country, competing over natural resources rather than sectarianism.
The government control little outside of the capital, Bangui, leaving more than half the country's population, some 2.5 million people, dependent on humanitarian aid for survival.
According to the U.N., more than 13,000 children have been recruited to fight since 2012. Didier Kire says he was just 10 years old when he was captured by Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. "They said we have to win the fighting and kill a lot of enemies,” Kire told Vice News. “Whoever refuses to fight is killed.”
Last year, Kire fled the LRA during a battle with another rebel group called the FPRC, who later captured him. But instead if setting him free, they too made him fight.
Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News
Check out VICE News for more: http://vicenews.com
Follow VICE News here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicenews
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vicenews
Tumblr: http://vicenews.tumblr.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/vicenews
More videos from the VICE network: https://www.fb.com/vicevideo