A former child soldier from Somalia has described the brutal reality of his upbringing in a militant group, telling of a world where children were forced to ‘kill or be killed’ to survive. Speaking from a rehabilitation centre in Mogadishu, the 17-year-old, who cannot be named for security reasons, said he was abducted at age nine and trained to use assault rifles within weeks. His testimony comes as the UK government announces a new £5 million package to fund trauma counselling and psychosocial support for former combatants in the Horn of Africa.
The young man’s account lays bare the psychological toll of enforced violence. ‘They told us if we didn’t kill, we would be killed,’ he said, his voice steady but eyes cast down. ‘I still see the faces of those I shot. They come at night.’ His words echo the findings of a 2023 UNICEF report, which estimated that 1,200 children were recruited by armed groups in Somalia last year alone. The trauma, experts say, can lead to lifelong mental health issues, including PTSD, depression, and psychosis.
UK Minister for Africa, Andrew Mitchell, stated during a press conference in London that the funding would train 200 local counsellors and support 50 community-based mental health clinics across Somalia. ‘This is not just about disarmament,’ he said. ‘It is about restoring a sense of humanity. A child who has been forced to kill needs more than a handshake; they need sustained psychological care.’ The programme will integrate mental health support into existing education and vocational training initiatives, aiming to break cycles of revenge and re-recruitment.
The announcement has been welcomed by aid groups, though some critics argue that more must be done to tackle the root causes of child soldiering, such as poverty and political instability. Dr. Amina Abdulkadir, a Somali psychologist who runs a clinic in Kismayo, says the UK’s focus on mental health is crucial but must be paired with broader societal healing. ‘These children carry the weight of entire communities. If we don’t address the collective trauma, the cycle continues.’
For the young ex-soldier, the path to recovery is slow. He now attends school for the first time, studying math and English between therapy sessions. ‘I want to be a doctor, to help others like me,’ he said, a fragile smile crossing his face. ‘But first, I must learn to live with what I have done.’ His story, and those like it, underscore the urgent need for a holistic approach to post-conflict reconstruction. The UK’s investment in mental health is a step forward, but as the dream of one former child soldier suggests, the real battle is for the future of a generation raised on war.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirmed that the funding will be disbursed over three years, with a focus on gender-sensitive care for girls who were often used as sex slaves. The programme will also include training for teachers and community leaders to identify signs of trauma. ‘We are not just treating wounds; we are rebuilding souls,’ Mitchell added.
The international community has long struggled with the phenomenon of child soldiers, estimated to number in the tens of thousands across conflict zones in Africa and Asia. While the UK’s initiative is a notable move, it is a drop in a vast ocean. The real transformation, as the young survivor’s words remind us, begins with recognising that every child forced to bear arms is a child systematically denied their innocence. The path to peace is paved with such acknowledgment.
