UNAMID rebuts Sudan’s allegations of delaying Darfur DDR process
June 29, 2015 (EL FASHER) – The joint peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) refuted accusations of impeding the activities of the Sudan Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (SDDRC).
In a statement issued on Monday the hybrid mission rejected the claims of the Sudanese official saying it is not concerned by SAF and PDF demobilized elements.
“The DDPD provides for UNAMID supporting the SDDRC in its endeavour to disarm and demobilise former combatants from Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM-Sudan/Dabajo),” the UNAMID said.
The peacekeeping mission which chairs the cease fire commission confirmed it turned down a request by the SDDRC to extend its cooperation to the demobilisation of Sudanese government troops but added they accepted to help the former rebels signatory of the 2006 Abuja Agreement.
The UNAMID “declined to support the proposed demilitarization of the SAF and PDF, on the grounds that this is a demilitarization as opposed to a DDR exercise, which falls outside the remit of the DDPD,” said the statement.
Regarding the fighters from the former rebel groups of Abuja agreement, the operation said they just provided that the Commission presents a complete master list of potential combatants to be demobilised.
“However, up to the present time, the Mission has not received this list and hence the delay in processing Abuja Agreement caseloads.”
However, UNAMID called on the demobilization body to engage positively with them to successfully conclude outstanding DDR activities, adding it has encouraged the SDDRC to seek bilateral support for the demilitarization of the SAF and PDF on several occasions.
(ST)