DDR in Sudan
Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration in the region
By Maximo Halty, DDR Coordinator, Sudan

The first step towards establishing a secure environment in Sudan, after signing the peace agreement and separating opposing forces, is to reduce new outbreaks of violence. In order to do so, ex-combatants (who might undermine peace and development) need to be reintroduced to civilian society through a programme of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR).

DDR in Sudan will take place in an extremely diverse environment. Its context will vary greatly between regions and will thus require flexible strategies and interventions. As previous experience has shown, the success of DDR is dependent on having an effective socioeconomic reintegration process that has been designed and implemented with all main stakeholders included. Here is how the issue is being approached in Sudan.
One of the main objectives of the DDR approach in Sudan is to create a DDR programme that will be incremental, integrated and manageable by the Sudanese government. For this purpose, three key institutions are being established: two separate DDR Commissions in the north and south to lead design, implementation and management; and a National DDR Coordination Council responsible for policy formulation, coordination and evaluation. These institutions face challenges that will require them to focus on several important areas in DDR:

• Demobilizing and reintegrating armed forces that are disorganized and lacking in clear procedures.
  
• Addressing the likelihood of exponential growth in organized armed crime due to the proliferation of other armed groups, small arms, and unregulated natural resources, and the fact that reliable forms of governance will be slow to take shape.
  
• Taking into account disparities among regions in terms of infrastructure and basic capacity, and the low level of economic development in southern Sudan.
  
• Allowing for the limited national capacity to plan, manage and implement DDR.
  
• Supporting communities whose resources and capacities have already been stretched to the extreme through the conflict.
  
• Addressing the unique needs of women in the DDR process—particularly those who were associated with armed forces.
  
• Managing expectations regarding DDR and its support mechanisms (often expected in the form of monetary packages).
  
• Ensuring early demobilization of children who may be reluctant to return to communities because of poverty, lack of opportunities or abusive family situations, or may anticipate greater benefits from going through the adult demobilization
  programmes.
• Addressing the issue of the higher risk of HIV/AIDS in former combatants and how this complicates their reintegration into society.
  

Despite the challenges, DDR in Sudan is expected to begin on time and bring much needed support to the peace process. With the support of the international community the parties have agreed to form and implement an interim DDR programme. The main objective of the interim programme is to build the capacity of DDR institutions and civil society, while initiating basic DDR processes for priority groups such as children and women associated with the armed groups, and the physically and psychologically disabled ex-combatants.

The interim programme also works in coordination with the Security Sector Transformation process and a Community Security Fund to address challenges in high-risk, high-priority communities throughout the country. Its successful development and
implementation will lay the groundwork for the future implementation of a multi-year programme to complete the DDR process.

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