Colombia's Armed Groups Recruit Children for Drone Warfare

A Human Rights Watch report reveals that drug gangs and rebel groups in Colombia are increasingly recruiting children to pilot explosives-laden drones. The report highlights that at least 1,500 children have been recruited since 2021, with 625 cases reported in 2024 alone. This recruitment is facilitated through social media, as armed groups seek to control rural areas abandoned by the FARC after a 2016 peace deal. Children are trained in drone warfare, with armed groups portraying these activities as games. In the first five months of 2026, armed groups conducted 121 drone attacks, resulting in 21 deaths and 145 injuries. The report emphasizes the failure of protection systems and the alarming rise in child recruitment for violent tasks.

Key Points: • At least 1,500 children recruited by armed groups in Colombia since 2021. • Children are being trained to pilot drones carrying explosives. • 121 drone attacks conducted by armed groups in early 2026, causing multiple casualties.