UNAMID and Partners conclude demobilisation of former combatants in Darfur

On 9 May, UNAMID`s DDR Section, in collaboration with Sudan Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (SDDRC), UNDP and WFP concluded the demobilisation of 779 former combatants from the signatory armed movements of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) and the erstwhile Darfur Peace Agreement of May 2006 (DPA) in El Fasher, North Darfur. Photo by Salah Mohammed, UNAMID.

19 May 2016

UNAMID and Partners conclude demobilisation of former combatants in Darfur

On 9 May, UNAMID`s Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Section, in collaboration with Sudan Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (SDDRC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and World Food Programme (WFP) concluded the demobilisation of 779 former combatants from the signatory armed movements of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) and the erstwhile Darfur Peace Agreement of May 2006 (DPA) in El Fasher, North Darfur.

The demobilisation exercise, conducted from 18 April to 9 May 2016, involved the  demobilisation of 403 former combatants from the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), 137 from Justice and equality Movement (Dabajo), 205 from Sudan Liberation Army-SLA (Terab), 32 from  Sudan Liberation Army (Mother wing ) and one from Justice and equality Movement-Peace wing.

UNAMID DDR Section provided logistical, technical and financial support to the 4th Demobilisation exercise in North Darfur, in which the Mission provided a safety allowance of 1500 SDG and food and water to last three months to each former combatant.  Additionally, different Mission components assisted with the construction of the site used for the demobilisation exercise. World Food Programme (WFP) distributed 116,800 kilograms of food rations to last each former combatant for three months. UNDP offered training on vocational skills in addition to startup grants for each former combatant who participated in the exercise, to ease their reintegration into their various communities. 

Speaking at the conclusion of the demobilisation exercise, SDDR Reintegration Officer, Mohamed Omer Mohamed, explained that whilst the SDDRC will endeavour to ensure all ex-combatants receive vocational training and briefing on small business opportunities, it will also pay special attention to the needs and welfare of the demobilised disabled combatants, especially women. “We urge the international community to continue to support such demobilisation processes in Darfur as successful implementation of these exercises encourages more combatants to join the peace process” Mr. Mohammed added.

The Commander of the 4th Demobilisation Camp, Captain Abdeljaleel Khalil Hamza, noted that demobilisation exercises, when carefully implemented, contribute immensely to efforts made to control small arms and light weapons in the region.

Adam Ramadan, an ex-combatant from the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), explained that he believes all disputes among Darfuri people can be resolved through dialogue. “I would like to call upon the non-signatory movements to put down their arms and join the peace process,” stated Ramadan.

The disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme (DDR) is part of the final security arrangements stipulated in the DDPD. The three-week exercise involved the identification and verification of documents and basic medical screening. The former combatants were also briefed on the reintegration procedures, after which they received registration cards.

UNAMID is committed to provision of technical, logistical and financial support to the implementation of the DDR exercises in Darfur.