UNICEF has recently issued a report about the Sudan People's Liberation Army's use of thousands of children as soldiers in its war against the government. Many of these child-soldiers are not even 16, and quite a number of them were used before the age of 10 in war or in war-supporting activities such as cooking for combatant, helping them and guarding , some have started their military career as early as the age of 8. Mutasim Elagraa, Child Soldiers in the Rebels Army

The UN convention the rights of children means that children as young as 15 yrs can be recruited .Under the agreement, the 18 year age limit applies to both government and rebel forces. Rebels are also banned from enlisting volunteers until they are 18.

Olara A Otunnu- Children and armed conflict

Child Soldiers - In the firing line

"more than 10,000 sudanese children are fighting.."

http://www.secularsudan.net/War/SPLAChildSoldiers.htm

There are no clear estimates of how many children have been drawn into Sudan's 17-year long civil war, but some estimates put the total as high as 15,000.

The southern Sudan rebel movement has made a promise to Unicef not to recruit any more child soldiers.

A sudanese soldier .Picture credit :BBC article

Sudanese soldier: By David Loyn in Southern Sudan