Youths in War in a Post-Colonial State and the Continuing Use of Child Soldiers: Perspectives from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Since most African statesState gained their independence from erstwhile colonial masters, some parts of AfricaAfrica have remained unstable, driven by various factors, including dictatorship and political instability. Some regions have witnessed major internal conflicts and economic declines that have threatened socio-economic developmentDevelopment, human security, sovereignty, the territoriality of states, and the stability and legitimacy of political regimes. Since its liberation from its erstwhile colonial ruler Belgium, the Democratic Republic of CongoDemocratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been hampered by internal instability in many forms and sizes, primarily driven by the country’s rich natural resource base, numerous rebel groups, and tribalism. The attraction of the country’s resources has resulted in the formation of many rebel groups, which has made the country unstable. Other motives have included the absence of the rule of law, competition for landLand, weak stateState capacity, and external influence. The existence of these rebel groups has resulted in the creation of a new form of the army in child soldiersChild soldiers, especially in the unstable Kivu province. We can trace the emergence of child soldiers in Africa to the post-colonial predicament of globalisationGlobalisation driven by increasing inequalities, insecure livelihoods, a weakened and strained social fabric, a downturn in the capacity of households, and debilitated social norms and the erosion of traditional African values. In addition, it has been driven by the easy access to light weapons by armed rebels and, by extension, by childrenChildren. Employing a qualitative research methodology supplemented by secondary data, this chapter delves into the use of child soldiers and what impact this has had on the country's economic growth prospects, internal and regional stability, and Southern Africa'sSouthern Africa securitySecurity architecture. The chapter's objective is to reveal the dire consequences of instability, especially the use of child soldiersChild soldiers, for the development and economic growth prospects of African states and the DRC in particular.