Disarmament, Demobilisation and Re-integration (DDR) as a Tool for Sustainable Peace and Development in Post-conflict Societies: a Case of South Sudan

Abstract

Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) remains a strategic component for Post-Conflict Peace-building and Reconstruction and has proved to be an efficient tool to guarantee any society emerging from conflict an ideal environment for peace, security and development to thrive. Within the African region for instance, DDR has been tried in a couple of countries among them Sierra Leone, Liberia, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and more recently South Sudan with remarkable success being recorded in a number of them. The cases of Sierra Leone and Rwanda remains classic examples for the successes achieved within considerably short period and under difficult circumstances. However, the South Sudan scenario is invariably different challenging the DDR model under implementation. In trying to find answers on why the exercise never achieved intended objectives, it is important to appreciate the historical background of the conflict and the Post conflict framework available. Subsequently, perspectives’ beginning with United Nations approach to DDR, African Union perspective and finally the East African perspective and how each of them influenced DDR implementation in the country has been canvassed. The paper also seeks to investigate and answer why DDR failed in South Sudan and depends on both Primary data collected on location in South Sudan as well as Secondary data from various sources. Interview guided forms were administered to various players among them beneficiaries, government officials involved in the exercise as well as UNDP/UNMISS officials whose role was critical in the process. Data was analyzed and presented in charts and tables to enable the researcher achieve the objectives of the study. The study focused on the key actors whose role was important during implementation among them Government of South Sudan, Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) as well as the United Nations systems being United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) as well as the United Nation Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Gaps were identified and factors that led to the collapse of DDR in the country enumerated with a couple of issues emerging out of the exercise. Additionally, the lessons drawn from the entire process are highlighted in the study which concludes with summary and recommendations that could help invigorate DDR in South Sudan.