According to him, the UN mission handed them over to a local organization, a partner of UNICEF for follow-up before their integration into the community. It should be noted that these 73 youths come from Rwindi, in the territory of Rutshuru and are quartered at the Mambango military camp.

It is also worth mentioning that these young people expressed the desire to join the army after having escaped forced recruitment by the M23 in the territories of Rutshuru and Masisi; they claim to have witnessed several scenes of their peers being killed, as well as other abuses, according to local sources.

Only ten children, all boys ranging in age from 15 to 17 years, and their names were on the list of young people who had been waiting for military training before their integration into the FARDC.

One of the children, 16 years old, testified that he had escaped from the M23 at Bushanga in the territory of Masisi. "We were herding goats. The M23 came and took my friends. I was hit by a stray bullet in the hand when I tried to flee. But they executed my friends before burying them. There were four of us boys and three are dead. They [M23] were six in number," he testified.

According to another 18-year-old survivor, who came from Mweso, he escaped from the clutches of the M23 when they tried to forcibly recruit him from his school, reported Radio Okapi.

"We were at school and the M23 came. They had already started forcibly taking students. As me and some friends tried to escape, we encountered a group of rebels. They shot one of us who tried to flee and he died instantly. They took us with them. We spent two days before getting a chance to escape. This is why I decided that even though I am still a student, I have to join our army. That’s why I find myself in Mambango," he testified.

Coming from Kitshanga, in the territory of Rutshuru, another 17-year-old youth spoke about the forced labor they were subjected to after being recruited by the M23.

He thus called on the Government to get involved to restore security in their place of origin. "They forcefully took us. If you resist, they kill you. They made us do certain tasks. For example, carrying their loads, building for them. It's a miracle we escaped. We ask the authorities to help us drive out the M23," he explained.

Gisèle Mbuyi