The University of Burundi organized an international conference on the prevention and protection of child soldiers on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. This event took place at the Mutanga campus of the University of Burundi. The gathering brought together scholars, academic leaders, and representatives from specialized organizations dedicated to the welfare of minors affected by armed conflict.
Emery Nukuri, vice-recteur de l’Université du Burundi, addressed the attendees regarding the purpose of the gathering. "L’objectif est d’échanger les expériences, les résultats de la recherche dans ce domaine," Nukuri said. His remarks showed the necessity of academic rigor when addressing the complex social and psychological challenges faced by children in volatile environments.
Collaborative Research and Partnership Efforts
The Doctoral School of the Université du Burundi organized the conference in collaboration with the Centre international sur la protection et la prévention des enfants soldats. This partnership integrates the Moroccan research center on child soldier prevention alongside the Centre pour le bien-être des enfants, which operates within the Doctoral School of the Université du Burundi. The event was organized by the Doctoral School of the University of Burundi in collaboration with the International Center for the Protection and Prevention of Child Soldiers, marking a formal step toward institutionalizing academic cooperation.
The collaboration involves the Moroccan research center on child soldier prevention and the Center for the Rights and Well-being of the Child at the University of Burundi's Doctoral School. These entities have aligned their resources to address the specific needs of children at risk of recruitment. By pooling their intellectual and research assets, these organizations aim to create a structured approach to identifying the root causes of child soldier recruitment and developing effective rehabilitation strategies.
Cooperation between these institutions centers on a shared objective to facilitate research collaboration between Maroc and Burundi regarding child soldier issues. The partnership aims to facilitate research collaboration between Morocco and Burundi regarding child soldier issues, ensuring that findings from both regions inform policy and humanitarian work. The framework allows for the exchange of academic findings and methodology between the participating organizations. Jean Christophe Girukwishaka, representing the research initiatives at the university, indicated that the joint effort seeks to establish a consistent flow of information between the two nations.
The integration of these diverse research entities ensures that the project remains grounded in both local knowledge and international best practices. Representatives from the involved centers confirmed that the project serves as a permanent bridge for scholars investigating the recruitment and rehabilitation of minors in conflict zones. By maintaining this permanent bridge, the University of Burundi and its partners intend to foster a long-term dialogue that transcends geographic boundaries, ultimately contributing to the global discourse on the protection of children in conflict-affected regions. The conference concluded with a commitment from all participating parties to continue their joint investigations into the protection of vulnerable youth.
