(MENAFN) In a coordinated operation spanning nine months, UN peacekeepers and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) secured the release of 410 children who had been held by armed groups in the conflict-ridden eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a senior UN official confirmed Tuesday.

According to Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the joint efforts by the peacekeeping mission in DRC, known as MONUSCO, and UNICEF led to the liberation of 344 boys and 66 girls from armed factions operating in North Kivu and Ituri provinces between January and September.

Dujarric stated that the children have since been connected to reintegration services designed to support their recovery and return to civilian life.

“During the same period, 165 cases of child recruitment and use (by the armed groups) were verified by the United Nations, including 30 girls and 135 boys,” he said. “Our colleagues tell us these numbers underscore the continued vulnerability of children in areas impacted by conflict and also highlight the urgent need for sustained protection measures, including prevention, accountability and long-term reintegration support.”

The UN has long maintained a framework to address children and armed conflict, under which peacekeeping missions are tasked with preventing and responding to severe violations such as child recruitment. Dujarric noted that MONUSCO supports Congolese authorities in enforcing action plans, training national security forces, and documenting abuses through the UN’s official monitoring and reporting mechanisms — all aimed at boosting accountability and child protection.

With the largest child protection division of any UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO reports it has facilitated the release of thousands of children from armed groups over the years. The mission also contributes to legal reforms in the DRC, offering technical assistance to strengthen national child protection frameworks.

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