Over 21,000 combatants
of the Sudan People’s Liberation
Army were willing to undergo disarmament
demobilization and reintegration (DDR)
as early as January 2008, according
to the Director General of the Southern
Sudan DDR Commission.
Speaking at a DDR workshop in Juba,
Benjamin Gimba said the number formed
part of 25,000 combatants who had
separated from the military, as announced
by the SPLA. However, no clear information
was available on the number of women
and children included in the process.
The two-day reintegration planning
workshop, conducted by the Southern
Sudan DDR Commission with technical
support from UNMIS, discussed reintegration
activities and provision of alternative
livelihoods for ex-combatants. The
event, held on 21 and 22 November,
brought together 86 DDR stakeholders
in Sudan from Government of Southern
Sudan ministries, non-governmental
organizations and donor as well as
UN agencies
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The
workshop also identified members of
the Reintegration Technical Coordination
Committee and possible implementing
partners for reintegration of ex-combatants,
who will discuss possible reintegration
options and make recommendations to
incorporate them in the planning process.
Mr. Gimba noted that the Commission
was working closely with the National
DDR Commission in planning and implementing
DDR activities in the Three Areas
of Abyei, Nuba Mountains and southern
Blue Nile State. He called on the
UN and NGOs to design projects to
meet various reintegration options
as a matter of urgent priority.
Closing the event, Minister for Presidential
Affairs Luka Biong said, “The
year 2008 should be the year of DDR
activities in Southern Sudan”.
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