In Colombia, Petro fends off criticism over killing of child rebel recruits

Armed groups have increased their recruitment of minors under 18. Should the government be responsible for their deaths?

Bogota, Colombia – Eight underage rebel recruits were killed last week after the Colombian government launched a fresh military offensive against a prominent armed group, according to President Gustavo Petro.

The news comes amid soaring child recruitment by Colombia’s armed groups in recent years and has ignited a debate over whether forced recruits can be protected on the battlefield.

In a Monday post on the social media platform X, President Petro confirmed that seven adolescents were killed in a government bombing campaign in the southern Guaviare department on November 10.

Another minor was killed three days later, on November 13, in a government offensive in the eastern department of Arauca.

Those deaths bring the total number of teenage fatalities to at least 12 in under two months.