The presence and participation of child soldiers was first evidenced during a gunfight between SAF and RSF at the SAF base in Furbarnaqa in June 2023. They were then cited in Division 16 in Nyala. Since then, the participation of children in the conflict has escalated as several children have been cited in Division 15 in Zalingei in Central Darfur, Division 21in Ardamata in West Darfur, and Division 20 Eldein in East Darfur among other states.
The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) was able to obtain names of community leaders in South Darfur who are affiliated with RSF and the names of RSF officers who are involved in the recruitment of children into the conflict, particularly in South Darfur, however, these have been concealed for security purposes. We also noted that the majority of the child soldiers were recruited from the areas of; Tembisko, Bulbul Abu Jazo, Sania Deliba, Kabra, Adal al-Fursan, Umm Jannah, Umm Zaifa, Umm Dafouk, Umm Dukhan, Rhyd al-Bardi and Furbarnaqa in South Darfur, Khazan Jadid located in Sheria locality North East of Nyala in South Darfur State, and Natika and Kas located West of Nyala.