Darfur rebel group ends child conscription 17 (UPI) -- A hybrid peacekeeping mission in Sudan's Darfur region welcomed an agreement by a rebel force to end the recruitment of child soldiers. The rebel Justice and Equality Movement became the seventh militia in Darfur to prohibit the use of child soldiers. JEM made the decision following recent negotiations with members of the hybrid U.N.-African Union Mission in Darfur. UNAMID chief Aichatou Mindaoudou said she welcomed the step by what's considered one of the largest armed groups in Darfur. "Child soldiering is detrimental to peace and to children, who are the future of Darfur," she said in a statement. (UNAMID) applauds JEM's commitment toward protecting children and appeals to all members of armed groups and forces to do the same. The U.S. State Department last week advised U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to Darfur or the Sudanese states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan.