Full waivers will not be issued for seven nations.
President Biden’s administration has issued a memorandum that identifies seven countries as using child soldiers in their defense forces in 2022, which is a violation of the Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008 (CSPA). Violation of this act prohibits specific types of military funding. The seven countries currently in violation of the CSPA and not being granted waivers this year are Afghanistan, Burma, Iraq, Mali, South Sudan, Syria, and Venezuela.
U.S. presidents have typically awarded full or partial waivers in favor of supporting U.S. national security interests. This will be the first time in 10 years that the U.S. issues no full waivers to nations in violation of the act. The president’s memo indicates that partial waivers will be extended to Somalia, Yemen, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the coming fiscal year.
Since the passing of the CPSA, the U.S. has allowed more than $7.2 billion in sales of weapons and military support to go to countries using child soldiers.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Under Secretary Mike McCord as he fulfills the role of Chief Financial Officer for the Defense Department.
- That Secretary Lloyd Austin would seek God’s leading as he heads the Department of Defense.
- For wisdom for the president and his military advisors as they address the issue of child soldiers.
Sources: Military Times, Marine Corps Times
