More than 200 children were released by South Sudanese armed groups on Thursday, the third time children have been freed from war this year.
The newly released children now bring the total number to 806 in 2018 alone.
The United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF) expects additional releases in the coming months that could result in more than 1,000 children being freed.
“Every a time a child is released and able to return to their family, it’s a source of great hope – hope for their future and for the future of the country,” UNICEF’s Representative in South Sudan Mahimbo Mdoe said.
“We also hope there will be many more of these events until there are no longer any children in the ranks of armed groups.”
South Sudan has been dogged by conflict since December 2013, sparked by a feud between President Salva Kiir and his then deputy Riek Machar.
Kiir accused Machar of plotting to overthrow his reign, allegations the latter refuted but then went on to mobilize a rebel force to fight the government.
The war has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions others, prompting the UN to rank South Sudan as Africa’s biggest refugee crisis, coming third globally after Syria and Afghanistan.
Previous released of children by armed troops took place in February and April in the town of Yambio in the south of the country, where 348 and 248 children were released.
The 210 children released on Thursday included three girls and largely came from the opposition group the SPLA-IO, with eight having been associated with the National Salvation Front (NSF).
UNICEF estimates that around 19,000 children continue to serve in the ranks of armed forces and groups in South Sudan.
