By Godfrey Olukya 19-8-2013
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) said at least 82 children have been rescued from a rebel group in the eastern part of the country.
MONUSCO said the children, including 13 girls, had been forcibly recruited in the past six months by the Mai Mai Bakata Katanga militia.
The group is active in Katanga province in the south-east of Democratic Republic of Congo.
40 of the rescued children have been reunited with their families and the others are said to be receiving care.
The mission said in a statement that the children had been identified and separated from the militia through the concerted efforts of child protection agencies.
It added that since the beginning of the year, 163 children, including 22 girls, have been removed from the militia.
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