Myanmar’s military says it has discharged 93 minors from its ranks following UN accusations of widespread child soldier recruitment, though concerns persist over ongoing conscription and rights abuses amid the country’s civil conflict.

Myanmar’s military junta has announced the discharge of 93 minors from its armed forces, in a rare public admission following mounting international criticism over the use of child soldiers.

The announcement, published in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Friday, comes weeks after the United Nations released a damning report accusing both the junta and affiliated armed groups of recruiting more than 400 children—many of whom were allegedly deployed to active combat zones.

According to the junta’s statement, the 93 individuals were identified through a verification process conducted last year. Authorities claimed the minors were subsequently released and provided with financial assistance. However, the government did not specify the exact timeline of their discharge, raising questions about the transparency and timing of the process.

The UN report highlighted widespread and systematic recruitment of children across Myanmar’s conflict zones, with the majority of cases reportedly taking place in western Rakhine State. At least 300 of the enlisted minors were believed to be from the Rohingya Muslim community, which continues to suffer from severe repression and displacement.

Myanmar has been gripped by political and civil unrest since the military’s February 2021 coup, which overthrew the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The ensuing chaos triggered a nationwide resistance movement and armed conflict, with ethnic militias and newly formed resistance groups challenging the junta's authority, especially in the country's border regions.

In an effort to replenish its forces amid escalating clashes, the junta activated a mandatory conscription law in early 2024, further fuelling concerns over the use of child soldiers and forced recruitment. Rights groups and international observers have repeatedly condemned the military’s actions, calling for accountability and urgent protections for vulnerable populations, particularly children.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that more than 3.5 million people have been internally displaced since the conflict began, with children making up over a third of those affected.

Despite the junta’s latest claim of discharging underage recruits, critics argue that the move does little to address the broader pattern of human rights violations, forced conscription, and the ongoing militarisation of Myanmar’s youth. Calls for independent investigations and international pressure continue to grow, as the country’s humanitarian and political crisis deepens.