Over 27,000 ex-combatants disarmed, demobilized and reintegrated

By Julius N. Uma

October 7, 2010 (JUBA) — A total of 27,698 participants have already gone through the first phase of South Sudan’s Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process since 2005, Sudan’s Human Security Baseline Assessment (HSBA) said in its latest report.

The process targets both sides of Sudan’s north-south civil war, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the former rebels the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), who now govern the south,

Started in 2006, the Small Arms Survey’s Sudan HSBA project has produced more than three dozen in-depth reports on aspects of armed violence, small arms, and insecurity in Africa’s largest country.

Launched in June in south Sudan’s capital Juba the DDR process has spread to Kadugli and Julud (South Kordofan), as well as Rumbek in Lakes State. Other states including Sudan’s capital, Khartoum and the Eastern Equatoria State capital Torit also due to begin the process.

The DDR program also targets special needs groups like the elderly and disabled combatants, children associated with armed forces and groups and women associated with armed forces and groups.

In 2007, the project adopted a national DDR strategic plan; an initiative that called for the program to cater to those seeking to voluntarily demobilize.

Questions of sustainability and comprehensive reintegration support for those demobilized, delays in timing between disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, absence of long-term implementing partners and donors have been cited as some of the challenges affecting the DDR process.

(ST)