Thirty-two children have been released from armed opposition groups in Leer county, in northern South Sudan. This is the first formal release in former Unity State, one of the areas hardest hit by the conflict. The children, all boys aged between 13 and 17 were released yesterday. Some of the children have been used by the armed groups since the conflict flared up in 2016 and have not seen their parents since. Speaking to Jane Rabothata, Chief of Child Protection at the United Nations Children's Fund, Jean Lieby said there is great progress with releasing children in armed ranks in South Sudan