FIRST PHASE OF EX-COMBATANTS’ DEMOBILIZATION WRAPS UP IN SUDAN – UN

Thousands of former fighters have taken part in the first phase of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme, marking a key milestone for the 2005 agreement that ended Sudan's north-south civil war, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country reported today.

The last of over 5,600 ex-combatants earmarked for demobilization were processed yesterday in the first phase of the DDR scheme in Blue Nile state, in Sudan's east, according to the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), which celebrated the achievement in a brief ceremony.

The joint North and South Sudan DDR commissions, along with UNMIS, the UN Development Programme UNDP, World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), are assisting with the process in Blue Nile.

The DDR initiative seeks to ensure that demobilized combatants are properly reintegrated into civilian life, receiving packages including livestock and vocational training. Monitoring is also a crucial component to prevent former fighters from sliding back into violence.

The DDR commissions have agreed to jointly process caseloads in Blue Nile, Southern Kordofan and Abyei, before expanding to other areas under the 2005 pact, known as the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Other key benchmarks of the treaty include border demarcation and preparations for national elections in 2010 and a referendum on the final status of areas of southern Sudan in 2011.

One-third of ex-combatants demobilized in Blue Nile have already started receiving counseling as a first step to reintegrate into civilian life.

Up to 180,000 former fighters from the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), Popular Defence Forces and Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) will be demobilized, and the first stages will target mostly those with special needs, including the old and infirm, as well as women and children associated with armed forces or groups.

The multi-year scheme is being led jointly by the DDR commissions, with financial and technical support from the UN.

But UNMIS pointed out that funding continues to be a major challenge. Some $430 million is required over three years, but only $88 million was pledged at the last donor conference held in Juba earlier this year.

In a related development, the UN today welcomed the donation of 22 vehicles by the European Commission, which will be used by the DDR commissions to help monitor participants transition into civilian life.

"The progress made in the past year on DDR has become one of the success stories of CPA implementation," UNDP Country Director Jorgen Lissner said at a ceremony in the capital, Khartoum.

The cars will be used to allow case workers to cover areas of reintegration and provide logistical support for the daily operations of the commissions.
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EFFORTS TO DISARM SUDANESE EX-COMBATANTS MAKING HEADWAY, REPORTS UN OFFICIAL

The United Nations reports that progress is being made in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of soldiers in north and south Sudan, a key component of the 2005 agreement that ended the country's 21-year civil war.

"The Sudanese DDR programme is unique and potentially the largest and most complex ever undertaken," Adriaan Verheul, Chief of the DDR Unit at the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), told a news conference in Khartoum today.

"Some 180,000 members of the armed forces and women who have helped the armed forces will be given the possibility to make a living as a civilian. Any child soldiers will be reunited with their families," he added.

Mr. Verheul said that more than 5,000 soldiers have now gone through the demobilization process, which was launched in February.

The DDR process is a key component of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which was signed by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).

Other key benchmarks of the pact include border demarcation and preparations for national elections in 2010 and a referendum on the final status of areas of Southern Sudan in 2011.

The goal of the reintegration of the soldiers is two-fold, noted Mr. Verheul. One is to provide people who have fought for their country with an exit from military life with a degree of dignity, while the other is to contribute to stability, which in itself will help generate greater trust and provides the foundation for peace and development.

"We hope that DDR would contribute to a better and more positive climate for the elections and the referendum," he stated. "But let us start with an overall contribution to the situation on the ground."

UNMIS is tasked with assisting the parties and the people of Sudan in fulfilling their commitments under the CPA.
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SECURITY COUNCIL DEMANDS END TO VIOLENCE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

The United Nations Security Council today demanded an end to violence by armed groups terrorizing the northern Central African Republic (CAR) and called for all parties in the country to abide by the results of a recent national dialogue.

The 15-member body also endorsed a plan by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to establish a new, integrated UN unit in the landlocked nation to replace the UN peacebuilding office there known as BONUCA, according to a statement read out by Ambassador Claude Heller of Mexico, which holds the rotating Council presidency for the month.

Through the statement, the Council called on all armed groups to immediately end recruitment and use of child soldiers, and stressed the urgency of carrying out a process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of other fighters.

Mr. Ban's recommended tasks for the new UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office (BINUCA) include assistance for elections, government reforms and demobilization efforts, along with the facilitation of continued national dialogue.

The Council called a recent multi-stakeholder dialogue, held in the capital Bangui from 8 to 20 December 2008, "an effective framework to foster national reconciliation and stability."

Last month, François Lonsény Fall, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, told the Council that the talks were a result of two years of "tremendous effort" by various actors, both national – including representatives of the Government, opposition and civil society – and international.

At the end of the 12-day dialogue, he said, several agreements had been reached, including the establishment of a broad-based government, a commitment to hold municipal, legislative and presidential elections in 2009 and 2010, and the setting up of an independent electoral commission.

In today's statement, the Council called on the Government and all political stakeholders to ensure timely, effective and transparent preparations for those elections.

Despite the agreements, however, fighting this year in north-west of the CAR between Government troops and an emerging rebel force, known as the Convention of Patriots for Justice and Peace (CPJP), have led some 6,400 people to escape into the bush, while over 9,000 others have fled across the border to Chad.

In the past ten years, over 300,000 people have been displaced by violence in the country.

While efforts are under way to help the internally displaced persons (IDPs), Government forces have limited humanitarian workers from gaining access to those in need several times in recent months, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
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UN-ASSISTED SCHEME TO DEMOBILIZE EX-SOLDIERS IN EASTERN SUDAN ENTERS NEXT PHASE

The second phase of a disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programme supported by the United Nations that aims to help nearly 2,300 ex-combatants put down their weapons and reintegrate into civilian life kicked off today in eastern Sudan.

Senior governmental officials, UN officials and donors were among those on hand at the launch ceremony in Kassala State of the initiative, carried out under the Support to Human Security Project of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

The DDR process is part of the 2006 Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA) that ended a decade-long conflict between the Government of Sudan and the Eastern Front.

"The DDR is the backbone of consolidating any peace agreement. Without successful reintegration of former fighters, sustainable peace, and accompanying social and economic development will not be possible," said UNDP Country Director Jerzy Skuratowicz.

"Therefore, the work we are undertaking collectively will be central to assisting Sudan to achieve its social and economics goals and to foster peace and development in the East," he added.

During the first phase, carried out from 2007-2008, the project succeeded in registering demobilized combatants, and providing them with services such as medical screening, food and clothing packages, and financial support.

Some 1,200 ex-combatants were trained on veterinary and basic business management skills, and provided with goats, sheep and commodities to help them start up small businesses.
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