NGO BADILIKA warns of armed groups recruiting and exploiting children through social media

Congolese NGO BADILIKA is urging the government to better protect children from violations enabled by digital technologies during armed conflict. Its appeal follows the unanimous adoption on October 19, 2026, of UN Security Council Resolution 2832, which addresses the online recruitment, harassment and exploitation of children. Coordinator Kambale Nguka Patrick says armed groups in eastern DR Congo use social media and messaging platforms to recruit, manipulate and exploit children. BADILIKA also reports online blackmail and the non-consensual sharing of intimate content, and calls on UNICEF and its partners to support awareness and enforcement of child-protection laws.