Sudan: Getting the fighters out of uniform

JUBA, 4 March 2009 (IRIN) - Three weeks after disarmament was officially launched in the border region of Ed Damazin in Blue Nile State, Sudanese officials have discovered that raising money is tough and getting ex-combatants to hand in arms even tougher.

The disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programme requires US$430 million. A 16 February donor roundtable in Juba, the Southern capital, received pledges for $91 million.

"It will take time to implement and certainly face enormous challenges," said Salva Kiir Mayardit, first Vice-President of Sudan and chair of the roundtable involving the government, UN and donors.

The programme, launched on 10 February, has been billed by officials as a very important milestone in the peace process, in line with the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) marking the end of the 21-year-long north-south civil war.

DDR is a key element of the agreement - which also calls for the downsizing of armies into small, manageable units. The programme envisages the complete reintegration into civilian society of ex-combatants to avoid undermining public security.

"We started with just a small number of 30 or so," William Deng Deng, chairman of the Southern Sudan DDR Commission, admitted. "But we are continuing on a daily basis."

According to the UN Mission in Sudan, the DDR programme in Blue Nile State alone aims to demobilise about 5,000 combatants.

"This event marks the start of the largest DDR programme worldwide as well as a key milestone in the implementation of the CPA," Ameerah Haq, the UN special envoy in Sudan, said at the launch.

South Kordofan and Abyei have been given priority, according to an agreement reached by the government of national unity, government of Southern Sudan (GoSS), the UN and donors.

Ultimately, 180,000 soldiers, 90,000 from each side, are expected to be demobilised. Elias Nyamlell Wakson, member of Sudan's National DDR Coordination Council, said the North had already demobilised 6,000.

The delay in the South, he added, could be attributed to the lack of social and economic structures to absorb the demobilised ex-combatants.

Cash issues

Officials in Southern Sudan, however, said the DDR programme needed millions of dollars to resettle and place the ex-combatants in meaningful work.

The plan is to give ex-fighters shelter, $250 and vocational training as part of their compensation. The money is the compromise figure arrived at jointly with the Khartoum government.

Under this arrangement, the South plans to pay up to $6.25 million to 12,000 former rebels, children and women associated with armed forces, who are all set to be de-registered from the army in 2009.

The $91 million that donors pledged targets both Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) combatants. Of this, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) will require $10 million to demobilise children.

"The target was at least $100 million for 2009," Deng said. "We fell short, but will hold another meeting in three months to raise another $100 million or so."

Even where some money has been provided, the average rate at which fighters are turning up has been two a day. The first day of demobilisation attracted 15 ex-combatants.

Security concerns

The slow pace is likely to cause anxiety among local communities, many of whom blame insecurity for their problems, say local observers.

Recently, Southern MPs suggested a disarmament incentive should be sought from GoSS and international agencies through the Southern Sudan Disarmament Demobilisation Rehabilitation Commission.

"We cannot deliver services to our citizens if there is too much insecurity," said Daniel Deng Monydit of the SPLM.

The MPs also demanded closer control of borders and a stop to simultaneous recruitment of new troops.

Deng said the government's intention was to downsize the army to establish an efficient, capable and professional army that is financially affordable.

"Politically, GoSS will not allow further intakes into the SPLA whether for political reasons or any other," he noted in a 6 February letter to donors. "This process is now complete and will enable the SPLA numbers to stabilise."

The CPA recognised the SAF, SPLA and the Joint/Integrated Units as national armies.

"The GoSS is committed to the process of proportional downsizing of the army through the DDR," Kiir told donors. "This is a huge burden."

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