Ending Child Soldiers in Africa Act

This bill requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Commander of AFRICOM, to submit a comprehensive report within 180 days of enactment. This report will detail the effects of child soldiering in Africa on United States national security interests, providing a crucial assessment for policymakers.

The mandated report must include an assessment of the connections between child soldiering and various threats, such as violent extremism, terrorism, transnational criminal organizations, and forced population displacement, alongside regional instability and threats to critical supply chains. It will also examine the methods extremist organizations use to recruit and indoctrinate children, including the exploitation of religion and ideological narratives.

Furthermore, the report will evaluate current U.S. and allied efforts to prevent child soldier recruitment and support demobilization and reintegration, assessing lessons learned from successful African-led initiatives. It will also explore the feasibility of creating programs within other U.S. Commands to combat child soldiering globally and assess the establishment of an Africa-based center or coordinating mechanism to consolidate best practices, support research, and counter extremist recruitment of children, potentially in Uganda.