“Sometimes they stay silent, then suddenly they become agitated. As if something is blocking them,” he continues.
– “Shiny” diamonds –
In the east of the country, fractured by years of armed conflicts, these adolescents are trying, with the help of a local NGO, to overcome their traumas and build their future away from violence.
“They have all, at some point, been captured by armed groups,” explains the 53-year-old instructor, who has been teaching them for three years.
With its 75,000 inhabitants, Bria, nicknamed “the sparkling one” because of its diamond-rich subsoil, is the capital of the Haute-Kotto prefecture, a region marked by the persistent presence of rebel groups.
The number of armed groups in the Central African Republic has decreased since the peak of the crisis, going from about twenty to 14 recognized by the authorities. This is thanks in particular to about ten peace agreements and successive disarmament programs since 2012, the latest of which was signed in July 2025.
However, some factions and militias continue to control vast areas, especially in the east of the country, along the border with Sudan and South Sudan.
Since the end of 2025, fighting between the army and rebels has intensified, leading to the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians, mostly women and children, within the country and towards the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
– Violence of the past –
In 2025, 52 students were supported by the NGO Espérance for professional reintegration.
Operating since 2016, the Central African association partially funded by Unicef offers beneficiaries psychosocial support in addition to training.
And recent disarmament operations have led to an increase in demand: “Before, we might receive one call per month. Today, it’s every week,” explains Karl Malone, in charge of identifying new cases of child soldiers in the Bria region.
“This year, we have received enough funding to help 100 children,” he says. But, “there are at least 117 (in total) who need help. And we cannot take care of them,” sighs the humanitarian.
Like other sectors of humanitarian aid, the NGO has been affected by the decrease in international funding, including from USAID, the American development agency dismantled shortly after Donald Trump returned to power in the United States.
According to the latest annual report of the United Nations Secretary-General, recruiting and using children by armed forces and groups remain the most frequent violation of children’s rights in the Central African Republic, accounting for 65% of reported cases.
According to UNICEF, around 2,000 Central African children are still being used by armed groups.
