Mohammed is a former soldier of Al Qaida in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). He joined this organisation at the age of 15 years old, with 16 other Malian youngsters. They were trained in Aghabob, North Mali. Other youth of the same age, specifically Algerians, were trained with them.According to Mohammed: «Islamist groups are recruiting youth like me at the border of Mali and Mauritania, in order to commit several operations in the name of Islam. They exploit them for military means, often for spying at the borders between Mali and Niger, Mauritania, and Algeria. Worse, they send them commit bomb attempts. In several regions, such as at In Khalil, at the border between Mali and Algeria, children are send dressed as beggars as a camouflage for their real activity which is to spy for these groups », he explained.

The story of Abderahmane is not different. He is an ex-fighter for Ansar ’dine in North Mali. He is now 17 years old. Two years ago, he stole a rifle from his father, a soldier in the Malian army. Fearing his father’s wrath, he joined the extremist organisation.

«The military training lasted six months. It took place in the Taghar Gharine region (Adrar Tigharghar). It helped me learn how to use several types of weapons: Kalashnikov, Dushka, RPG 14, 5… After the training session, I called my father as I hoped to return home. My dad threatened me. He said he would throw me in jail for ever if he succeeds in catching me. I became all the more committed to stay with Ansar’dine. I was convinced I was doing jihad for Allah’s Heaven. I called for death every day to have access to paradise and get rid of my life ‘suffering » Abderahmane said. According to him, 30 youths as young as 10, took part to the military training.

Youssouf has met a similar fate. He was a fighter for the Macena halpulaar movement, born from a split of the Movement for Unicity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO). He is 16 years old. He states: «I took part to 15 fights, the most recent took place with the Pulaar movement Macena attacking the Malian army at Nampala, close to the borders between Mali and Mauritania, on 16 January 2015» he declared. «But» he said «I don’t know how many persons I have killed in the 15 battles I was involved in ».

MUJAO recruits too soldiers among children and youth. Mourad is a 17 years old youth. He recalls: «At 12, I was dreaming to wear weapons. When the Azawad revolution started in 2012, I joined the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). However, as it did not have enough means and resource, I left it and joined the Movement for Unicity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO). They paid me monthly 50.000 FCFA (75 €). Since my childhood, I am seeking to avenge the death of my father at the hand of the Malian government. » explains the youth.

Mourad said he voiced opposition to MUJAO’s bombs attempts. He would have refused to fight against the other armed groups in North Mali. His single enemy would be only the government of Mali. For these reasons, the leaders of the movement developped hostile feelings against him. Hence his decision to flee from MUJAO.

«The movement was preparing children to commit bombing attacks. We were gathered to select a candidate among us. I was opposed to the idea of a bombing attempt. Hence, I fled for my life; I walked two days to the N’beeg Mountains to escape from a search party who was tracking me. This group had been instructed to eliminate me as soon as they found me. But cattle breeders warned me and helped me hide myself and keep safe » he said. Today, Mouradhas a single wish: he wants to go back to school and leave behind these two years he spent within the ranks of MUJAO.

Nabila is the mother of a 14 years old child soldier. Her son has been killed during French attacks against Islamists movements in Timbuktu. She says: «Islamists movements were not forcing children to joint them; they were rather inciting them with small cash handouts. They raised ‘awareness’ and the ‘sensitivity’ of children and youth in villages and camps, on the necessity of fighting waste and corruption with the implementation of sharia». «These awareness campaigns led to the recruitment of 300 child soldiers between November 2012 and early 2013» she said.

Nabila claims that many child soldiers came back home after the French military’s intervention. However, «they adopt the islamists’ ideology». She adds: «I have seen a former child soldier explain to mates how to use a weapon in a professional manner ».

Mohamed Mahmoud Aboulmaâli, a specialist of Islamists movements in Sahel, thinks that «these groups are feasting on poverty, illiteracy, and passivity of these children’ families. They are promising kids the heaven awaiting them immediately after dying in the fighting. They pay them massive cash amounts when they join up».