Daniel Ozoukou

Drivers of ‘voluntary’ recruitment and challenges for families with adolescents engaged with armed groups: A conceptual framework from Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of the Congo

Research Square (Research Square), Mar 25, 2022

Background: Globally, armed con icts have increased threefold since 2010. The number of children ... more Background: Globally, armed con icts have increased threefold since 2010. The number of children voluntarily engaging with armed groups is also rising around the world, despite increasing recognition and efforts to prevent this grave human rights violation. However, traditional approaches focusing on the prevention, release, and reintegration of children through forced recruitment do not adequately address the complex and interlinking push and pull factors of voluntary recruitment. This qualitative study sought to deepen understanding of the drivers and consequences of voluntary recruitment from the perspectives of adolescents and their caregivers, as well as to explore how to better support families living in con ict settings. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 74 adolescents (44 boys and 30 girls aged 14 to 20 years) and 39 caregivers (18 men and 21 women aged 32 to 66 years) in two distinct con ict settings: the North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ouham-Pendé, Central African Republic. Adolescents respondents were either formerly involved in armed groups or were at risk of engaging, and caregivers were the primary caregivers for children formerly involved in armed groups. Interviews with adolescents utilized a visual narrative technique. Results: The ndings examine the unique perspectives of adolescents engaged with armed groups and their caregivers to understand how con ict experiences, economic insecurity, and social insecurity in uence children's engagement with armed groups and reintegration with their families. The study found that families living in con ict settings are subject to traumatic experiences and economic hardship that erode protective family relationships, leaving adolescent boys and girls particularly vulnerable to the systemic and overlapping economic, social, institutional push and pull factors that in uence them to engage with and return to armed groups. Conclusions: The ndings illustrate how these factors can disrupt protective social structures, and inversely how familial support can act as a potential protective factor against recruitment and break the cycle of reengagement. By better understanding the experiences and needs of children enduring recruitment and how to support caregivers of those children, more comprehensive programming models can be developed to adequately prevent voluntary recruitment and promote successful reintegration, enabling children to reach their full potential. Nevertheless, a deep understanding of the experiences of families living in con ict settings with armed recruitment is lacking. To address these gaps in knowledge around the drivers of voluntary recruitment and how engagement in armed groups affects family dynamics, this study conducted in-depth qualitative research with children and caregivers in con ict-affected families in two distinct settings: Ouham-Pendé, Central African Republic (CAR) and North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The speci c objectives of the study were to gain a greater understanding on the drivers of voluntary recruitment from the perspectives of adolescents and their caregivers, as well as to explore barriers and facilitators for reintegration of CAAFAG. By better understanding the experiences and needs of children enduring recruitment and their families, practitioners can develop more comprehensive programming models to more adequately prevent voluntary recruitment and promote successful reintegration. Methods Qualitative data were collected across 8 research sites in con ict-affected communities in CAR and DRC where child recruitment is common. The research protocol for this study was reviewed and approved by the [REDACTED] institutional review board (CYPD 1.00.008 and CYPD 1.00.012) and the Comite National D'Ethique de la Sante (CNES) in DRC. All research methods and tools were also reviewed by an external technical advisory group convened for the project, which is made up of experts on research and programs for children associated with armed forces and armed groups (CAAFAG). Study Setting Central African Republic Context Research activities were conducted in three communities in the prefecture of Ouham-Pendé, CAR, which has been ravaged by uctuating con ict since 2005. CAR has experienced waves of con ict since gaining independence from France, which colonized the country until 1960. Tensions between religious and ethnic groups within the region have driven civil con ict, with Northeastern communities (Muslim by faith) considered marginalized by the State and pro-government anti-balaka groups (Christian by faith) due to a lack of basic social services and infrastructure in the region and challenges to their citizenship. This escalated to the height of the military coup in 2012, and the country has faced multiple coup attempts in the last decade (17, 18). Communities on both sides of the con ict have suffered traumatic, con ict-related events, as well as exacerbated socioeconomic conditions and lack of governance (19). The recruitment of children into armed groups has been ongoing-and increasing-in CAR since 2007 (20). In CAR, three main non-state groups are listed in the Secretary General's report as parties committing grave violations against children, including child recruitment: Anti-balaka, former Séléka coalition and associated groups, and the Lord's Resistance Army. These and other armed groups on both sides of the con ict recruit children from their communities and used them as combatants, porters, informants, cooks, and for sexual purposes (17).

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Drivers of ‘voluntary’ recruitment and challenges for families with adolescents engaged with armed groups: Qualitative insights from Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of the Congo

PLOS global public health, May 24, 2023

Globally, armed conflicts have increased threefold since 2010. The number of children voluntarily... more Globally, armed conflicts have increased threefold since 2010. The number of children voluntarily engaging with armed groups is also rising, despite increasing efforts to prevent this grave human rights violation. However, traditional approaches focusing on the prevention, release, and reintegration of children through forced recruitment do not adequately address the complex and interlinking push and pull factors of voluntary recruitment. This qualitative study sought to deepen understanding of the drivers and consequences of voluntary recruitment from the perspectives of adolescents and their caregivers, as well as to explore how to better support families living in conflict settings. In-depth interviews were conducted with 74 adolescents (44 boys and 30 girls) ages 14 to 20 years and 39 caregivers (18 men and 21 women) ages 32 to 66 years in two distinct conflict settings: North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ouham-Pendé , Central African Republic. Interviews with adolescents utilized a visual narrative technique. The findings examine the unique perspectives of adolescents engaged with armed groups and their caregivers to understand how conflict experiences, economic insecurity, and social insecurity influence adolescent's engagement with armed groups and reintegration with their families. The study found that families living in conflict settings are subject to traumatic experiences and economic hardship that erode protective family relationships, leaving adolescent boys and girls particularly vulnerable to the systemic and overlapping factors that influence them to engage with and return to armed groups. The findings illustrate how these factors can disrupt protective social structures, and inversely how familial support can act as a potential protective factor against recruitment and break the cycle of reengagement. By better understanding the experiences of adolescents enduring recruitment and how to support caregivers of those adolescents, more comprehensive programming models can be developed to adequately prevent voluntary

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Russia and China strategies in the Central African Republic

African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, Jun 30, 2022

In more than six years, Russia expanded its presence in Africa sevenfold, starting with four (4) ... more In more than six years, Russia expanded its presence in Africa sevenfold, starting with four (4) countries in 2015 and reaching 25 by 2021, including the Central African Republic (CAR). In the CAR, Russia became a major actor alongside the fourteen (14) armed groups, the United Nations Blue Helmets, and the Central African Army forces. While Moscow is involved in security issues and military diplomacy with lucrative reward, China is engaged in several development activities. This study examines Russia's and China's motivations, interests, and strategies in the CAR. The authors use the New Scramble for Africa literature as their theoretical lens. The overall objective of this paper is to foster a greater understanding of Russia's and China's role in the CAR where armed groups control 60% of the resource-rich areas. The armed groups' predatory activities and Moscow's realist policy in the CAR derailed the peace process via direct confrontations between the great power and armed groups. These confrontations escalated the geopolitical rift between France and Russia over CAR. Our findings indicate that Russia and China will increasingly become engaged in strategic competition for the resources of CAR, with detrimental consequences for peace and prosperity in the CAR.

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Drivers of ‘voluntary’ recruitment and challenges for families with adolescents engaged with armed groups: Qualitative insights from Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of the Congo

PLOS Global Public Health

Globally, armed conflicts have increased threefold since 2010. The number of children voluntarily... more Globally, armed conflicts have increased threefold since 2010. The number of children voluntarily engaging with armed groups is also rising, despite increasing efforts to prevent this grave human rights violation. However, traditional approaches focusing on the prevention, release, and reintegration of children through forced recruitment do not adequately address the complex and interlinking push and pull factors of voluntary recruitment. This qualitative study sought to deepen understanding of the drivers and consequences of voluntary recruitment from the perspectives of adolescents and their caregivers, as well as to explore how to better support families living in conflict settings. In-depth interviews were conducted with 74 adolescents (44 boys and 30 girls) ages 14 to 20 years and 39 caregivers (18 men and 21 women) ages 32 to 66 years in two distinct conflict settings: North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ouham-Pendé, Central African Republic. Interviews with adolescen...

Renforcer la Protection et la réintégration des enfants en situation postconflit : Examen des facteurs économiques liés au recrutement et à la réintégration en

Policy Brief, 2021

The policy memo draws on the IRC Strengthening Protection & Reintegration for Children (SPARC) fo... more The policy memo draws on the IRC Strengthening Protection & Reintegration for Children (SPARC) formative research project: Evidence and Action for Children in Armed Conflict. This is a humanitarian information and communications project that seeks to overcome common obstacles to traditional information services to better serve the complex needs of people in crisis. That research project targeted adolescents and caregivers and understood the link between childhood happiness and involvement in armed groups. While many tools and guidance have focused on community-based reintegration mechanisms for children formerly recruited, IRC built on current learning, particularly on the topic of parenting, in order to develop practical tools for humanitarian actors to support holistic reintegration of children first in the home, and consequently in the community. The memo highlights the overall reintegration policies and focuses on employment issue. Based on the formative research findings, the paper argues that employment and occupation can prevent recruitment into armed and pave the way for sustainable peacebuilding. In that perspective, the paper formulates key recommendations to stakeholders on the necessary steps to be undertaken to achieve effective and sustainable reintegration.

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Russia and China strategies in the Central African Republic

African Journal of Political Science and International Relations

In more than six years, Russia expanded its presence in Africa sevenfold, starting with four (4) ... more In more than six years, Russia expanded its presence in Africa sevenfold, starting with four (4) countries in 2015 and reaching 25 by 2021, including the Central African Republic (CAR). In the CAR, Russia became a major actor alongside the fourteen (14) armed groups, the United Nations Blue Helmets, and the Central African Army forces. While Moscow is involved in security issues and military diplomacy with lucrative reward, China is engaged in several development activities. This study examines Russia's and China's motivations, interests, and strategies in the CAR. The authors use the New Scramble for Africa literature as their theoretical lens. The overall objective of this paper is to foster a greater understanding of Russia's and China's role in the CAR where armed groups control 60% of the resource-rich areas. The armed groups' predatory activities and Moscow's realist policy in the CAR derailed the peace process via direct confrontations between the great power and armed groups. These confrontations escalated the geopolitical rift between France and Russia over CAR. Our findings indicate that Russia and China will increasingly become engaged in strategic competition for the resources of CAR, with detrimental consequences for peace and prosperity in the CAR.

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Russia and China strategies in the Central African Republic

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

In more than six years, Russia expanded its presence in Africa sevenfold, starting with four (4) ... more In more than six years, Russia expanded its presence in Africa sevenfold, starting with four (4) countries in 2015 and reaching 25 by 2021, including the Central African Republic (CAR). In the CAR, Russia became a major actor alongside the fourteen (14) armed groups, the United Nations Blue Helmets, and the Central African Army forces. While Moscow is involved in security issues and military diplomacy with lucrative reward, China is engaged in several development activities. This study examines Russia's and China's motivations, interests, and strategies in the CAR. The authors use the New Scramble for Africa literature as their theoretical lens. The overall objective of this paper is to foster a greater understanding of Russia's and China's role in the CAR where armed groups control 60% of the resource-rich areas. The armed groups' predatory activities and Moscow's realist policy in the CAR derailed the peace process via direct confrontations between the great power and armed groups. These confrontations escalated the geopolitical rift between France and Russia over CAR. Our findings indicate that Russia and China will increasingly become engaged in strategic competition for the resources of CAR, with detrimental consequences for peace and prosperity in the CAR.

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Russia and China strategies in the Central African Republic

African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 2022

In more than six years, Russia expanded its presence in Africa sevenfold, starting with four (4) ... more In more than six years, Russia expanded its presence in Africa sevenfold, starting with four (4) countries in 2015 and reaching 25 by 2021, including the Central African Republic (CAR). In the CAR, Russia became a major actor alongside the fourteen (14) armed groups, the United Nations Blue Helmets, and the Central African Army forces. While Moscow is involved in security issues and military diplomacy with lucrative reward, China is engaged in several development activities. This study examines Russia's and China's motivations, interests, and strategies in the CAR. The authors use the New Scramble for Africa literature as their theoretical lens. The overall objective of this paper is to foster a greater understanding of Russia's and China's role in the CAR where armed groups control 60% of the resource-rich areas. The armed groups' predatory activities and Moscow's realist policy in the CAR derailed the peace process via direct confrontations between the great power and armed groups. These confrontations escalated the geopolitical rift between France and Russia over CAR. Our findings indicate that Russia and China will increasingly become engaged in strategic competition for the resources of CAR, with detrimental consequences for peace and prosperity in the CAR.

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Drivers of ‘voluntary’ recruitment and challenges for families with adolescents engaged with armed groups: A conceptual framework from Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of the Congo

Research Square, 2022

Background: Globally, armed conflicts have increased threefold since 2010. The number of children... more Background: Globally, armed conflicts have increased threefold since 2010. The number of children voluntarily engaging with armed groups is also rising around the world, despite increasing recognition and efforts to prevent this grave human rights violation. However, traditional approaches focusing on the prevention, release, and reintegration of children through forced recruitment do not adequately address the complex and interlinking push and pull factors of voluntary recruitment. This qualitative study sought to deepen understanding of the drivers and consequences of voluntary recruitment from the perspectives of adolescents and their caregivers, as well as to explore how to better support families living in conflict settings.Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 74 adolescents (44 boys and 30 girls aged 14 to 20 years) and 39 caregivers (18 men and 21 women aged 32 to 66 years) in two distinct conflict settings: the North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ouham-P...

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Children affected by Displacement and the Right to Legal Identity in Mali

Children displaced within Mali, or returning from refugee camps outside the country, face ongoing... more

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Daniel Ozoukou Mali legal identity

Children displaced within Mali, or returning from refugee camps outside the country, face ongoing... more

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