UNAMID continues to provide technical and logistic support to the Government of Sudan in establishing peace across Darfur through the implementation of the Darfur DDR Programme and facilitating, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, the successful disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of former combatants.

By Sharon Lukunka

As part of efforts to mitigate the impact of the decade-long conflict in Darfur, the reintegration of ex-combatants into society has acquired immense importance. Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) activities typically, are crucial components of both the initial stabilization of war-torn societies as well as their long-term development.

The objective of the DDR process is to contribute to security and constancy in post-conflict environments to facilitate advancement toward recovery and development. DDR helps create an enabling environment for political and peace processes by dealing with security problem that arises when ex-combatants are trying to adjust to normal life, during the vital transition period from conflict to peace and development. DDR is integrated into the entire peace process from peace negotiations through peacekeeping and follow-on peacebuilding activities.

In Darfur particularly, the signing of the Doha Document for Peace (DDPD) in 2011 and subsequent agreements have contributed greatly to the DDR process. Chapter VI, paragraph 399, of the DDPD highlights that all armed and militia groups shall be disarmed and disbanded as a prerequisite for the implementation of comprehensive arms control measures, to ensure security throughout Darfur. The Government of Sudan (GoS) shall be responsible for the disarmament of armed groups.
 
An important step in this direction was the formation of the Sudan Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (SDDRC), following the establishment of the National DDR Coordination Council in 2006, which is mandated to oversee the DDR process at the highest level. The SDDRC is tasked with implementing the DDR process in North Sudan at the state and local levels and, in recent times, leads the design and implementation of DDR in Sudan. 

On its part, the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), through its Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Section, provides technical and logistic support to the Government of Sudan in the implementation of the Darfur DDR Programme. This Programme is designed based on the Final Security Arrangements’ provisions of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed in May 2006 and the (DDPD) adopted in July 2011 by the Government of Sudan  and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM).

“DDR activities are crucial components of both the initial stabilization of war-torn societies as well as their long-term development. The main objective of the DDR process is to contribute to security and stability in post-conflict environments so that recovery and development can begin,” says Mr. Zurab Elzarov, Senior DDR Officer, UNAMID. To achieve this end, the Mission works in coordination with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  With UNDP specifically, UNAMID closely collaborates in the Community Security and Arms Control (CSAC) interventions, rendering technical advice and logistical support. Other areas of cooperation between the Mission and UNDP include Reintegration Opportunity Mapping and Quick Impact Projects (QIPs). 

One of the first DDR processes undertaken by the SDDRC, supported by UNAMID, UNDP, UNICEF as well as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), was for the Sudan Liberation Army-Mother Wing and began in 2009. According to Mr. Yusef Osman Yusef, Officer in-Charge, SDDRC, more than 50 ex-combatants from SLA-Mother Wing were demobilised in the first batch while some 100 were demobilised in the second phase; the last group of 30 recently completed the demobilisation process in El Fasher, North Darfur, in November 2014.

Mohammed Abubaker was among the ex-combatants from SLA-Mother Wing who were demobilised and reintegrated into the community in November 2009. Mr. Abubaker, now a businessman, was originally from Manawashe, South Darfur. Speaking to Voices of Darfur, the former combatant says it was his personal belief that made him join the armed movement in 2004. “I joined the movement along with other young men from my region because I wanted to defend my identity, my family and my community.”

For Mr. Abubaker and others like him, leaving their military affiliations and reentering civilian life was not an easy decision. During his reintegration process, Mr. Abubaker received a financial package of some 1,500 Sudanese Pounds ($175) which he used to start his own business in El Fasher, North Darfur, selling goods in a shop.  Additionally, he received support from friends engaged in similar activities. Leading a civilian life also gave Mr. Abubaker the opportunity to complete his education at the School of Development, El Fasher University, where he received a post graduate diploma in Economics.

According to Mr. Abubaker, his life now has more stability as compared to his days as a combatant as he has developed strong community ties. His business is also proving to be a success; additionally, he uses his free time to support and encourage young boys in his neighborhood to complete their education and contribute to the development of their communities.

In November 2014, the SDDRC organized the third demobilisation process for former combatants belonging to the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)-Sudan, led by Brigadier Bakheit Debajo.  The movement signed a peace agreement with the Government of Sudan in April 2013. 1,350 JEM-Sudan combatants took part in the first phase of the exercise which is in line with the security arrangements of the DDPD. Following medical and physical screening, more than 800 combatants were integrated into the Sudan Armed Forces and some 500 others underwent the demobilisation exercise.

Suleiman Hamis, 22, is one of the former combatants from JEM-Sudan who participated in the third demobilisation exercise in El Fasher, North Darfur. Originally from north Jebel Marra, he revealed to Voices of Darfur that he joined the movement in 2006. Having experienced the difficulties associated with being an active combatant, Mr. Hamis said he was happy to return to civilian life. “I wanted to go back to being a regular citizen, establish a shop or any other small business in the market and help support my family,” he added.
Similarly, Abubaker Adam, 25, originally from Malha, North Darfur, became a member of JEM-Sudan in 2010; his aim, at that moment, he says, was to fight for development in his neighborhood. He says his overall ambition remains the same—to contribute to the development of Darfur. Therefore, he reveals, after his reintegration, he plans to complete his secondary school education and, later, study to become a doctor.

According to Mr. Elzarov, DDR of former combatants is a complex process, with political, military, security, humanitarian and socioeconomic dimensions. When conflict comes to an end, those who directly took part in fighting may have special livelihood, economic and psychosocial needs, resulting from years of being engaged in armed violence. “Failure to address the special requirements of ex-combatants may have long-term consequences for stability and threaten what can sometimes be a fragile peace,” he adds.  

  On its part, the UN supports DDR processes in several peacekeeping missions, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti, Somalia and Darfur. The ongoing conflict has had a tremendous negative impact on the social fabric of Darfur. In the absence of a comprehensive peace agreement in place, DDR efforts in Darfur focus on community-oriented programmes designed to set the stage for formal DDR activities, fostering trust at local levels and supporting programmes to move the peace process steadily forward.

UNAMID’s DDR section has been working through the framework of what has come to be known as second-generation DDR, which offers different strategy and policy options that rely on unique approaches considered more effective for specific contexts. “Rather than focusing on formal DDR activities, second-generation DDR takes a more organic approach in focusing on peace and security at the community level, and ensuring the involvement of these communities in the peace process,” says Aderemi Adekoya, Chief, DDR Section, UNAMID.

This second-generation approach to support peace in Darfur at the community level, UNAMID’s DDR section has been implementing a violence-reduction strategy that has taken several forms in practice, most notably in CLIPs—community-based, labour-intensive projects designed to support the efforts of the Government of Sudan in addressing the needs of at-risk young people and other vulnerable groups in communities and in camps for displaced people. The projects focus not only on developing vocational skills, and in many cases facilitating on-the-job training through community infrastructure rehabilitation and construction, but also on fostering reconciliation across Darfur.

As Mr. Elzarov points out, “DDR lays the groundwork for safeguarding and sustaining the communities in which former combatants can live as law-abiding citizens. Additionally, it provides them with alternative, viable ways of making a living, thereby, building national capacity for long-term peace, security and development.”

Download the PDF here.

On 25 August 2014, former combatants from the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)-Sudan/Dabajo faction earmarked for integration into the Government of Sudan military are pictured in El Fasher, North Darfur. Photo by Hamid Abdulsalam, UNAMID.