AU, UN & WB 4th partnership framework on DDR in Africa launched

Addis Ababa, October 19, 2023 (FBC) – The 4th partnership framework between the African Union (AU), the United Nations and the World Bank Africa on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) in Africa officially launched today at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

The aim of the DDR partnership framework between AU, UN and World Bank is to support the AU DDR Capacity building program, which in turn aims to create sustainable DDR capacities within the AU, Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) and Member States to support national and regional DDR initiatives in the continent.

The 4th partnership framework places particular emphasis on: Operational support on the ground, Political aspect of DDR and relevant activities, and Preventive role of DDR inlcuding developing related DDR tools like early warning products.

Since its first launch in 2013, the AU DDR Capacitation has undergone 3 phases of implementation, which benefited from multiple rounds of support by UN Office to the African Union, World Bank Africa and other partners.

This 4th phase of the joint collaborative framework will be developed from 2023 to 2025, according to African Union Political Affairs Peace and Security (AUC PAPS).

Through a process of removing weapons from the hands of members of armed groups, taking these combatants out of their groups and helping them to reintegrate as civilians into society, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration seeks to support ex-combatants and those associated with armed groups, so that they can become active participants in the peace process.

As an alternative path, allowing some ex-combatants to integrate formal uniformed services of the State allows their status to be regularized and ensures a close link between DDR and security Sector Reform.