"My name is Ben Kadogoo. I am twelve and I am from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I have served in a militia group for about one year before UN troops caught me and took me to a transit camp for demobilised child soldiers in Bunia.
"Although I went by myself to join the Union des patriots congolais [UPC] militia group, I left it because I didn't see the benefit of fighting. I was paid only once, US $10.
"I bought food and took some of the money to my parents but I grew disillusioned with the UPC when no further payment was forthcoming. I had to rely on grabbing whatever I could get - food, money and clothes - whenever my unit was involved in a raid on civilians.
"I decided to join the UPC without my parent's knowledge because I was tired of running every time there was a raid on our village. I was also afraid or being forcefully recruited into the militias because I had heard that those abducted by militiamen were generally mistreated and abused during their induction as soldiers.
"My duties in the UPC were mainly routine. I didn't kill anyone as I was mostly on guard duty. Right now, I am glad to be at this camp where I get food and clothing. All I want is to go to school. I need help to return to school in order to help my parents. I don't want to go to school in Bunia, the militia might recapture me."
"Although I went by myself to join the Union des patriots congolais [UPC] militia group, I left it because I didn't see the benefit of fighting. I was paid only once, US $10.
"I bought food and took some of the money to my parents but I grew disillusioned with the UPC when no further payment was forthcoming. I had to rely on grabbing whatever I could get - food, money and clothes - whenever my unit was involved in a raid on civilians.
"I decided to join the UPC without my parent's knowledge because I was tired of running every time there was a raid on our village. I was also afraid or being forcefully recruited into the militias because I had heard that those abducted by militiamen were generally mistreated and abused during their induction as soldiers.
"My duties in the UPC were mainly routine. I didn't kill anyone as I was mostly on guard duty. Right now, I am glad to be at this camp where I get food and clothing. All I want is to go to school. I need help to return to school in order to help my parents. I don't want to go to school in Bunia, the militia might recapture me."
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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