Colombia’s government estimates that up to 37 percent of the Central General Staff (EMC), the largest FARC dissident faction led by Iván Mordisco, could be minors forcibly recruited into the group.
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Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez Suárez presented the figure during a censure debate in Congress, noting that the proportion varies across territories. “We estimate that Mordisco’s dissidents could have around, in some sectors, almost 37 percent of minors,” he said.
The minister added that the State Major of the Blocks and Fronts (EMBF), commanded by Calarcá, is believed to have “15 percent of minor combatants” in its ranks. By comparison, he said the National Liberation Army (ELN) likely has around 10 percent, while the Clan del Golfo, Colombia’s largest criminal organization, stands at about 5 percent.
Que no recluten tus sueños. Protejamos juntos a nuestros menores, a nuestro futuro.
Cero tolerancia con los criminales que reclutan a nuestros menores para que participen en las hostilidades y pierdan su protección durante las mismas.
El reclutador crea un “riesgo… pic.twitter.com/GzWXpX3Sgz
— Pedro Arnulfo Sanchez S. Orgullosamente Colombiano (@PedroSanchezCol) December 8, 2025
Sánchez Suárez urged lawmakers to confront the underlying conditions enabling forced child recruitment. “What we see is the effect, not the cause. Why does this threat emerge? Is it because of the security forces? There are many causes; one could say corruption, which removes opportunities,” he told Congress.
Recruitment persists in several regions, with Cauca identified as the main epicenter. Nationwide, a minor is recruited or used in the conflict roughly every 20 hours. According to UNICEF, recruitment increased by 300 percent between 2019 and 2024, a rise linked in part to the growing use of social media as a tool for enlistment.
While tracking cases remains difficult, estimates suggest that more than half occur in Cauca, a region historically marked by overlapping conflicts. Data from the Ombudsman’s Office indicates that at least 123 children and adolescents were recruited between January and September of this year.
The issue has gained renewed attention following President Gustavo Petro’s order to conduct several bombings against EMC positions since October. At least twelve minors in the group’s ranks were killed in those operations, prompting a national debate over compliance with International Humanitarian Law, state responsibility, and the practices of armed groups.
In response to the controversy, Sánchez Suárez insisted that the victims were not civilians. “I’m sorry, we are not talking about children. We are talking about minor combatants; we are not attacking any kindergarten,” he said.
The government’s data underscores the scale of child recruitment among armed groups and the complex challenges facing efforts to protect vulnerable communities in conflict-affected regions.
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