Child Soldiers in Africa

There still are children misused for wars, and this dramatic fact has a long and sad history. In past children where misused in the American Civil War, they were used by the Nazis and also in Iran. Many countries in Africa misuse child soldiers, today like it was in the past. These countries are: Angola, Algeria, Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal. Africa has the largest amount of child soldiers, with an estimated 200.000 of the total world estimate of around 300.000 child soldiers. But why do or did some countries misuse children in their wars at all? The answer is very simple, they are easy to influence and to manipulate. Another point is the fact that their education is on a very low level and their environment is unstable. Most of them lost their families and because of their naivety they become very loyal to the leaders. --- So, these wars are not fought by rebellious children. These wars are fought by children without childhood. Their childhood and innocence was stolen from them and all what is left is fear and desperation.