3 December 2013 - Seeking ministry and community support for ex-combatants, a two-day workshop on South Sudan’s disarmament programme ended in the Northern Bahr El-Ghazal state capital Aweil today.

Some 50 government officials as well as representatives of organized forces and non-governmental organizations attended the workshop, which focused on the South Sudan Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programme and its implementation, DDR target groups, and the need for partnership with other stakeholders.

During the opening, State Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports Mareng Chuor Deng Proper stressed that reintegration of ex-combatants was vital in preventing criminal activity.

“If we leave them hanging around, they will be part and parcel of the criminals who are infiltrating our community,’’ he said.

Noting that DDR was crucial for development, DDR Commission State Director Wilson Lual Lual said both ministries and local communities had an important role to play in reintegrating ex-combatants.

“When given the necessary technical training, the ex-combatants will play a key role in supporting the local economy,” he said. “In an area where there is no carpenter (for example), an ex-combatant trained in carpentry skills will fill the gap in community needs.”

Mr. Lual said the DDR programme was targeting 150,000 ex-combatants from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and other organized forces.

UNMISS Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State Coordinator Seth Kumi said UNMISS would continue to support the programme.