The Alarming Reality of Child Labour in South Sudan
South Sudan is facing a severe crisis as nearly two-thirds of its children are trapped in child labour, according to a recent national study conducted by the government and Save the Children. This alarming situation includes activities such as gold mining, herding cattle, and even involvement with armed conflict. In some regions, almost all children between the ages of five and 17 are working instead of attending school.
The National Child Labour Study, launched in Juba by the Ministry of Labour and Save the Children, highlights the stark impact of multiple crises—hunger, conflict, and poverty—that have led to the exploitation of the country’s youngest citizens. The report reveals that girls are often forced into domestic work and early marriage, while boys are subjected to dangerous or military-related tasks. Despite most caregivers being aware of the laws against child labour, this awareness does not translate into protection for the children.
The survey, carried out across seven states, found that 64% of children interviewed were involved in hazardous or coercive labour, with some areas reporting figures over 90%. In Kapoeta South and Yambio, nearly every child surveyed was found to be working, their lives centered around gold mining pits, farms, and livestock herds rather than classrooms. Many children are helping their families survive amid hunger and conflict, while others are being forced or coerced into more dangerous work, including sexual exploitation or direct involvement with armed groups.
A Crisis Beyond Poverty
“When nearly two-thirds of a country’s children are working, and in some areas, almost every child, it signals a crisis that goes beyond poverty,” said Chris Nyamandi, Save the Children’s Country Director in South Sudan. He emphasized that the child labour crisis is deeply intertwined with South Sudan’s broader humanitarian emergency. According to UN figures, 7.7 million people, over half the population, face acute food insecurity, with 2.3 million children under five at risk of malnutrition.
For many families, sending children to school has become a luxury. In remote counties such as Akobo and Bentiu, children trek long distances to fetch water, tend livestock, or dig for gold—activities that, while dangerous, often determine whether the family sleeps hungry. In these regions, boys are more likely to end up in hazardous manual or military-related labour, while girls face increased risks of domestic servitude, child marriage, and sexual exploitation.
“No child should have to work when they should be learning,” said Anthony, a Child Representative in South Sudan. “When children are forced into labour, they are denied their right to education and a chance to build a better future.”
Awareness vs. Protection
One of the report’s most striking findings is that awareness of child labour laws does not translate into protection. More than 70% of children involved in hazardous work came from households where caregivers knew that child labour was illegal. This gap reflects a deeper failure of systems, with poverty overriding principles and weak services failing to reach families in crisis. Only a third of children surveyed knew of any protection or support service available in their area, revealing widespread service gaps and fragmented referral systems.
At the report’s launch in Juba, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Labour, Deng Tong, described the findings as a call to action. “We must move from commitment to implementation, from promises to protection, and from words to results,” he said.
Regional Implications and Global Context
South Sudan’s child labour rates are among the highest in Africa, but the warning resonates beyond its borders. Across the region, prolonged droughts, displacement, and the rising cost of living have driven more families to rely on children’s work as a survival strategy. In neighbouring countries like Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya, similar trends have emerged in pastoralist and conflict-affected zones, where school dropout rates rise sharply during crises.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that Africa accounts for nearly one in every five child labourers globally, with 87 million children engaged in labour across the continent. Experts say reversing the trend will require a combination of stronger social protection, accessible education, and investment in livelihoods, not just law enforcement.
A Call to Action
The study found that children from food-secure households or with educated caregivers were significantly less likely to be engaged in child labour, underscoring the link between poverty reduction and child protection. The European Union, which funded the research through Save the Children’s Empowering Futures initiative, urged partners to bridge policy and action.
“Every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and become a leader of tomorrow,” said Barbara Egger, the EU’s representative in South Sudan. “Together, we are turning commitments into action, so that every girl and boy can realise the future they rightfully deserve.”
For Save the Children, which has worked in South Sudan since 1991, the message is clear: investment in education is not just about schooling, but the frontline of protection.
“Education remains the strongest protective factor. When children go to school, they are far less likely to end up in exploitative labour,” said Nyamandi. “If we strengthen education, rebuild livelihoods, and prioritise child protection, we can reverse this trend,” he added. “Every child deserves the chance to learn and thrive, not to work to survive.”
Save the Children calls for urgent investment in education, child protection, and livelihoods to end what it calls “a national emergency for South Sudan’s children.”