AU holds conference on disarmament

The Commission of the African Union (AU) has said in a statement that  in collaboration with the Transitional Demobilization and Reintegration Program (TDRP) of the World Bank and the United Nations, it has held a Donors’ outreach Conference on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Conference brought together representatives of the AU, UN, World Bank, European Union, other members of the donor community, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution (RMs), as well as AU Member States. The Conference provided an opportunity for the AU to inform partners on the AU DDR Capacity Program (DDRCP), which aims to strengthen capacities within the AU and the RECs/RMs, in support of national and regional DDR initiatives. The Conference was aimed at raising funds and mobilizing resources for AU DDR activities for 2013-2015. 

The DDR Capacity Program was launched in January 2013. As part of its implementation and with the support of the UN and World Bank- TDRP, the Commission has been able to undertake DDR assessment missions to the Central African Republic, South Sudan and the Union of the Comoros. On the basis of these missions, the AU is providing technical support and assisting Member States in mobilizing resources for their DDR programs.