PHASE I: The Pre-Interim Period - 6 months: initial activities shall start, including, in particular, those relating to children and other special groups:

• Demobilization of all child soldiers within six months of the signature of the CPA. With the signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement have agreed to the demobilization of all child soldiers within a six month time frame. The parties have also agreed to the identification and registration of all separated children being cared for by members of armed forces and armed groups for family tracing and reunification*.
• The beginning of the demobilization, disarmament, reintegration and reconciliation (DDRR) activities. During the Pre-Interim Period, this will relate, in particular, to designated 'special groups", including women associated with armed forces and groups and the physically and mentally disabled;
• The redeployment of the SAF from the south to the north;
• The re-deployment of SPLA forces from eastern Sudan;
• The formation, co-location in training centres, and training of Joint Integrated Units (JIUs) and UN monitoring;
• A DDR programme for OAGs to be prepared by the Southern DDR Commission (SDDRC) by the end of the Pre-Interim Period.

Although the CPA stipulates that all children should be removed within six months of signature, it is overly ambitious at this point to expect the deadline to be met.

PHASE II: First year (12 months) of the first half of the Interim Period-36 months:

During the first year of the Interim Period, a one-year Interim DDR Programme (IDDRP) will be implemented, which will lead into, and contribute to, the development of a multi-year full DDR programme. It is proposed that this IDDRP commence in July 2005. It should provide support for the assessment, verification and eligibility process of ex-combatants to be finalized in order to prepare a full multi-year DDR Programme (of possibly three years), which will be drafted on the basis of common discussions and assessed implementation interventions for the interim programme.

It is foreseen that the IDDRP will focus on developing the capacities of DDR National Institutions and related civil society groups. These programmes will also support Sudanese institutional capacity for:

• Completion of deployment of the JIUs;
• Re-deployment of SPLA forces from eastern Sudan to the South;
• Re-deployment of SPLA forces from the Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue Nile to the South and redeployment of SAF from the South to the North

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement is also the vehicle for initiating disarmament verification as well as arms control interventions targeting other stakeholders within the ceasefire zone**.

PHASE III: Second half of the Interim Period (D-Day+42 Months to D-Day+78 months):

Phase III will focus on continuation of the DDR process, training, and the monitoring process. It will include development of plans and modalities for transforming the JIUs into integrated ones.

PHASE IV: Post Interim Period; (D-Day +78 months to D-Day+84 months):

Phase IV will focus on formation of the Sudan National Armed Forces in case of unity, or dissolution of the JIUs in case of secession.