Author(s): Ousmane Traore, Dr. Mansour Gueye

Abstract: Conflicts usually turn upside down the norms of societies, and as such, young people lack references. Since family units and social tissues are severely damaged or even broken, children are left to themselves without any guidance and safety. So, the destruction of social entities is fully accompanied by the total demise of customarily living standards where children are protected and considered to be innocent and defenseless people. That being said, it can be argued that it is the changing nature of conflicts that has brought children into its core as indispensable fighters. Since most countries were wrecked internally in the last two centuries, this collapse set communities within these territories against one another, as no social component was spared of the wrath of war.

Keywords: conflict, civil war, child soldier, Sierra Leone, Liberia.

Article Info: Received: 25 Sep 2024; Received in revised form: 20 Oct 2024; Accepted: 25 Oct 2024; Available online: 31 Oct 2024

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.95.47