Sponsors (2)
Official title: To require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on the effects of child soldiering in Africa on United States national security interests.
Introduced June 10, 2026 by Joe Wilson · Last progress June 10, 2026
The bill improves U.S. understanding, coordination, and potential programmatic responses to child soldiering (helping security policy and rehabilitation efforts) at the cost of near-term administrative expense, possible long-term commitments, and risks of politicizing partnerships or provoking host-country pushback.
U.S. policymakers, diplomats, and military personnel receive a detailed, actionable assessment and improved interagency/allied coordination on child soldiering and extremist recruitment, enabling better-targeted policy, resource allocation, and operational responses.
Children in conflict-affected areas and nonprofit implementers benefit from identified African-led reconciliation and reintegration practices that U.S. programs can replicate, potentially improving rehabilitation outcomes for former child soldiers.
Taxpayers and private-sector stakeholders gain from evaluating an Africa-based center to coordinate research, training, and capacity-building, which could bolster regional stability and reduce risks to critical mineral supply chains.
Taxpayers and federal employees will incur near-term administrative costs and staff time to produce the required assessment and could face increased long-term costs or commitments if the feasibility study leads to implementation.
State governments and partner countries listed for potential linkage to the America First Global Health Strategy MOU and Child Soldiers Prevention Act waivers could face politicized partner selection and strained diplomatic relationships.
East African Community member states (notably Uganda) could object to hosting or to U.S.-supported activities, raising sovereignty concerns and local political pushback that may hinder implementation and relations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires a DoD-led report (180 days) assessing how child soldiering in Africa affects U.S. national security and the feasibility of an Africa-based coordinating center.
Requires the Secretary of Defense, working with the Secretary of State and AFRICOM commander, to deliver a report within 180 days analyzing how child soldier recruitment in Africa affects U.S. national security. The report must examine links to violent extremism, terrorism, transnational crime, displacement, threats to critical minerals and supply chains, recruitment methods, and current prevention/reintegration efforts, and evaluate the feasibility of regional programs and an Africa-based coordinating center (including possible placement in East Africa, specifically Uganda). It defines which African countries the report must cover.