The war came before the rains of 2000, Dukuly Togbah told New York Times reporter Tim Weiner. I was 10 years old.
Dukuly is an intelligent, tough boy from the northern hills of Paynesville. He is one among the thousands of children who have fought this nations civil war for 14 years. Dukuly is 14 years old, born on Independence Day, July 26. When he was in the first grade he started to fight with the rebel forces, but was captured. The government forced him to fight against the rebels or be executed. By the skin of his teeth, Dukuly managed to survive it all.
With the chance that the war may be coming to a cease-fire, Dukuly has been out of the line of fire for about 3 weeks. He lives in a shelter run by a Catholic charity in Paynesville where he is learning to read and write, because he has been at war when he should have been studying. Dukuly has been put in a terrible situation. Just imagine being thrown into a brutal war at the age of 10. He may be emotionally scarred for life. Dukuly deserves better than being forced to kill.
