H.R. 9256: Ending Child Soldiers in Africa Act

This bill would require the Department of Defense to prepare a report for Congress about how the use of child soldiers in Africa affects U.S. national security interests.

What the report must cover

Within 180 days after the bill becomes law, the Secretary of Defense, working with the Secretary of State and the commander of U.S. Africa Command, would have to submit the report to the congressional defense committees. The report would need to explain:

• How child soldiering is connected to violent extremism, terrorism, organized crime, population displacement, instability in the Sahel and West Africa, the Lobito corridor, and threats to access to critical minerals and supply chains.
• How extremist groups recruit and indoctrinate children, including through religion and ideological messaging.
• What the United States and its allies are already doing to stop child recruitment and help former child soldiers return to civilian life.
• What lessons can be learned from African-led efforts, including community-based programs and nongovernmental organizations, to rehabilitate and reintegrate children affected by conflict.
• Whether similar programs could be created within U.S. Central Command, Southern Command, and Indo-Pacific Command to address child soldiering in specific countries listed in the bill.
• Whether it would be practical to create an Africa-based center or coordinating mechanism to share best practices, support training and research, counter recruitment, and promote stability and reconciliation.
• Whether such a center should be located in an East African Community country, specifically Uganda.
• How such a center could be staffed and supported, including by using existing U.S. government personnel, local partners, NGOs, and regional experts.

Which countries are covered

The bill defines “covered country” mainly as African countries that already have certain partnerships with U.S. Africa Command and have a memorandum of understanding with the United States under the State Department’s America First Global Health Strategy. It lists countries including Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. It also includes any country for which a waiver is in effect under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008.

Practical effect

The bill does not directly create new penalties, aid programs, or military operations. Instead, it requires a study and policy assessment from the Defense Department, with input from the State Department and U.S. Africa Command, so Congress can review the issue and consider whether further action is needed.

Relevant Companies

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