US grants Nigeria, other countries waiver on the use of child soldiers

US president, Barrack Obama has granted waivers that allows the US to continue providing millions of dollars in U.S. military assistance to troubled countries where child soldiers have been used.

 

The countries benefiting from the waiver includes Nigeria, South Sudan, Rwanda, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Myanmar.
 

The new waivers circumvent parts of the 2008 Child Soldier Prevention Act meant to block certain kinds of military assistance to troubled countries.

 

According to a US spokesperson, the US can use the possibility of a waiver to provide an incentive for reform.

Obama's move did not go well with advocates who are disappointed that his administration hasn't made curbing the use of children in combat a higher priority.

Aid to the troubled countries varies. Annually, Iraq receives hundreds of millions in military support, while Myanmar has received no military assistance in past years.

Out of the 10 countries listed by the State Department this year as being implicated in the use of child soldiers, only Sudan, Syria and Yemen were not considered for waivers.