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Gatluak, 15, was recently released from an armed group in Unity State. He is now at a UNICEF-supported school and said: 鈥淚 am very eager to learn鈥� Picture: UNICEF/Rich

A spike in the forced recruitment of child soldiers in South Sudan could be imminent, the United Nations鈥� children鈥檚 agency UNICEF has said, amid fears that the world鈥檚 youngest nation is on the brink of renewed civil war.

Despite an August 2015 peace deal, fierce fighting broke out听in the capital Juba last month, killing hundreds of people.

鈥淎t this precarious stage in South Sudan鈥檚 short history,听UNICEF fears that a further spike in child recruitment could be听imminent,鈥� deputy executive director Justin Forsyth听said in a statement after visiting South Sudan.

鈥淭he dream we all shared for the children of this young听country has become a nightmare.鈥�

Some 16,000 children have been recruited into armed groups听since December 2013, UNICEF says, when civil war erupted between听troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and those backing former听vice president Riek Machar.

More than one in five of South Sudan鈥檚 11 million people has听fled their homes as a result of the ethnically charged war.

Luny, 14 (in yellow shirt) is at school for the first time ever after being freed from armed group. He said: 鈥淚 am nervous but looking forward to it.鈥� Picture: UNICEF/Rich

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Forces attacking villages often grab children and force听them, at gunpoint, to fight, rights groups say. Others join to save themselves from being beaten or killed and to protect their communities.

Half of children in South Sudan do not go to school 鈥� the听highest proportion in the world, UNICEF said.

Renewed fighting risks reversing gains made in 2015, when听UNICEF oversaw the release of 1775 former child soldiers, one听of the largest demobilisations of children. Most were freed by the South Sudan Democratic Army (SSDA)听Cobra Faction after its leader David Yau Yau signed a 2014 peace听deal with the government.

An additional 650 children joined military forces in 2016,听UNICEF said, amid numerous ceasefire violations.

Machar, who resumed his role as vice president under the听2015 peace deal, withdrew from Juba with his soldiers last month听and left South Sudan last week to escape government forces,听his party said.

UNICEF called for greater protection for women and children听who have endured 鈥渉orrific ordeals鈥� in the recent fighting. The United Nations said government soldiers and security forces executed civilians and gang-raped women and girls during and after last month鈥檚 fighting. South Sudan rejected the accusations.

鈥淭he systematic use of rape, sexual exploitation and听abduction as a weapon of war in South Sudan must cease, together听with the impunity for all perpetrators,鈥� Forsyth said.

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