During Sierra Leone's civil war the RUF (Revolutionary United Front) lacking volunteers turned to abducting children to swell their ranks. The government army was unable to protect the civilian population - indeed, many soldiers defected to the RUF. In turn civilians organised their own self defence militias called kamajors and found ready recruits among children who had been orphaned by the war. Why and how were children targeted to become soldiers to such an extent on both sides of Sierra Leone's civil war?
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- United Kingdom
