South Sudan optimistic over demobilization and disarmament policy
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June 8, 2011 (JUBA) — Four weeks before its independence, South Sudan
leaders remain optimistic that the new policy paper, which was drafted
to guide the next phase of the Demobilization, Disarmament and
Reintegration (DDR) program looks set to meet required mandates.
The new policy outline, currently being discussed in Juba at a
consultative meeting, was reportedly developed by a technical
committee that comprised of 10 senior officials from South Sudan
Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration Commission (SSDDRC) and
South Sudan’s Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA).
“The technical committee did his its part. After these deliberations,
the policy will be presented to cabinet for approval. We expect it to
be ready at least before July 09,” William Deng Deng, the SSDDRC
Chairperson said. . The current DDR program was an integral part of
the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), designed for one country
and two systems. The first phase of the program, which started in June
2009, initially targeted approximately 34,000 special needs groups
such as the elderly, former combatants and women associated with armed
forces.
Already, a total of 11,944 DDR participants, according to SSDDRC, had
been demobilized as of mid-March in selected South Sudan states of
Central Equatoria, Lakes, Western Bahr El-Ghazal, Northern Bahr el
Ghazal and Eastern Equatoria.
South Sudan will become independent in July following a referendum in
favour of secession in January. The plebiscite was agreed as part of
the 2005 peace accord, which ended decades of civil war.
“The next phase of the program, which is expected to begin after South
Sudan’s independence declaration, will mainly focus on disarming,
demobilizing and reintegrating active SPLA soldiers,” Deng added.
Held on Monday at Home and Away Hotel in Juba, the meeting was by
South Sudan minister of information, SPLA officials, UN agencies, and
representatives of donor community.
Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the region’s information and broadcasting
minister reiterated his government’s commitment to make the DDR
program a priority in the post-independence era.
Top of the plan, the minister added, is government’s plan to ensure
that the current number of southern forces are downsized, properly
trained and later transformed into a regional peace keeping force.
Marial, however, distanced his government and its forces from repeated
allegations of having extensively recruited child soldiers during the
over two decade civil war with the north.
“The children who came to the SPLA barracks were mainly orphans and
those who had no where to go. What the army did was to send them to
school and they now they are well educated and serving in various
disciplines within the country,” he emphasized.
(ST).
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