Children are main victims of trafficking in Africa

Recruited as soldiers and sold into prostitution and forced labour, children aged between 12 and 16 are the main victims of human trafficking across Africa, a new study compiled by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) says.

The study found that all Africa's 53 nations reported human trafficking, spurred by poverty, armed conflict, and instability, as well as traditional practices, such as early marriage.

A third of countries reported trafficking of humans to Europe—where women and children work as prostitutes—and a quarter to the Middle East and Arab …