National disarmament conference to be held in Juba

February 1, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – A high-level meeting organized by the National Council for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), which is a component of Sudan’s 2005 peace agreement, will be held in February 12 in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Sudan’s north-south peace agreement mandated a timetable for de-mobilizing forces from the warring Islamic government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, also requiring that independent and variously aligned militias be integrated into either the Northern or Southern army.

The First Vice-President of the Republic and President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, will join senior officials at the round-table conference in Juba, reported a state news agency, including Gen. Bakri Hassan Salih, the minister of the national presidency and chairman of the national DDR council.

One official on the Council, Osman Nouri, said the conference will address implementation of the reintegration programme for former soldiers, besides donor support for the programme.

The DDR commissions of North and South Sudan will also take part in organizing the conference. UN Representative for Sudan Ashraf Qazi will attend, along with ambassadors of the donor countries.

(ST)