2)+Which+Countries+Are+They+In?

The 15 of 54 countries in Africa are known to recruit child soldiers. These are Sudan, Chad, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote D'ivoire, Central African Republic, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Angola and Zimbabwe. (Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers). They are fighting for state or non-state forces to get resources which produce wealth. The government military from countries such as Chad, Dominican Republic of Congo, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda have recruited child soldiers which are over the age of 15. Non-state armed forces recruit children as young as the age of seven. Almost two thirds of the countries have already made the minimum age limit for soldiers to 18 years. (Facts and Figures on Child Soldiers).

The countries are using children to fight for them so they can control more natural resources which include timber, oil, and diamonds. Some foreign industries pay the government to create and fund wars so they can take control of other countries resources. The wars are distractions so the countries can be robbed of their natural resources, which are turned into cash. The cash is then used by ruling parties which create and fund the wars. They purposely create conflicts between tribes so they can blame the wars on the conflicts. So this vicious cycle continues to feed the rich and destroy the poor.(About Wars and Post-War Conflicts). Many non-state armed forces even brainwash the children into becoming soldiers, they force them to do horrible things like kill escapees. (IRIN Humanitarian News and Analysis)