At least 20 African countries have signed a convention aimed at addressing the scourge of child soldiers and preventing their recruitment across the continent.

Ministers from the countries signed the African Convention on the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration of Child Soldiers on Wednesday at a ceremony chaired by Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

The signing ceremony was held at Morocco’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

The convention “illustrates the strength of collective African action, speaking with one voice and having confidence in its own capabilities,” Mr Bourita said in a statement by the ministry on Thursday.

He said the convention underscores how Africa “is demonstrating its ability to develop its own standards rather than continuing to import them.”

According to the minister, the development marks the continent’s first treaty to prevent and combat the recruitment of children by armed groups and ensure their disarmament and reintegration into communities.

Mr Bourita noted that the convention also aims to strengthen regional cooperation and governments’ response to the recruitment of children into armed groups across the continent.

He added that African policymakers, experts, field practitioners, and other relevant stakeholders contributed to its development.

“The convention stands at the intersection of peace and security and the protection of children in situations of armed conflict.

“It provides African states with measures aimed at addressing the scourge of child soldiers across the continent and promotes their sustainable reintegration into their communities and societies,” the statement said.

The signing followed a process launched during the ministerial conference in November 2025, leading to the “Rabat Declaration, followed by consultations with African experts specialising in DDR processes and a process through which states submitted their views on the draft Convention.”

According to a report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), over 105,000 children were recruited and used by armed forces or armed groups worldwide between 2005 and 2022. 

It, however, said the figure could be higher.

“Warring parties use children not only as fighters, but as scouts, cooks, porters, guards, messengers and more. Many, especially girls, are also subjected to gender-based violence,” it said.