Document Type

Report

Publication Date

5-2026

Abstract

Child recruitment by violent non-state actors (armed groups that are not governments) remains widespread, and the number of children exposed to recruitment risk is growing as conflict zones expand and vulnerable youth populations remain within reach of armed groups. This analysis examines why these groups recruit children and how doing so shapes their operational behavior, especially terrorism. It combines cross-national data on 266 armed groups with case studies of Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram, drawing on datasets about child soldiering and terrorism as well as United Nations and other reporting. Child recruitment is common, often coercive, and associated with greater use of terrorism; groups that recruit girls, especially in combat roles, appear more likely to use terrorism, deploy more varied tactics, use suicide bombing, and attack soft civilian targets. These findings help explain how youth recruitment can strengthen extremist group resilience and highlight warning signs that can inform prevention, screening, and counterterrorism responses.

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