The Justice and Equality Movement (Jem), Sudan's main rebel group, is set to sign a deal with the United Nations to help stop children from becoming soldiers in Sudan.

The UN estimated in 2008 that there were around 6,000 child soldiers in the conflict-ridden region of Darfur alone.

The accord will give Unicef officials unfettered access to all of Jem's locations and bases to monitor the group.

But critics, including Sudan's government, argue the accord will give undue legitimacy to a rebel group that is "unlawfully" fighting the government. 

Al Jazeera's Mohammed Adow reports from Khartoum, Sudan's capital.