Government, UN ink deal to reintegrate ex-combatants

The government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Monday signed a cooperation agreement worth 500,000 Euros to aid the reintegration of ex-combatants and women associated with armed conflict in Western Bahr el Ghazal state.

The Piloting Community Violence Reduction Project aims to integrate 250 former combatants and 250 women associated with armed forces and groups.

The 15-month project will kick off early this month and will end in December 2023.

Agok Makur Kur, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, said the project will contribute to peaceful co-existence among communities in Western Bahr el Ghazal State

 “This project will bring peace as it aims to contribute productive and peaceful co-existence among communities in Western Bahr el Ghazal State,” Makur said during a signing ceremony on Monday in Juba.

Makur added that this project will help former combatants to play an active role in civilian life and in the rebuilding of the country.

“It is a development project as it will mobilize beneficiaries into cooperatives and promote access to business opportunity and financial services,” he said.

Titus Osundina, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, said the resources will be used effectively and efficiently to impact the lives of ex- combatants.

“I would like to assure you that these resources will be used for the intended purpose which will impact the life of the beneficiaries being targeted,” Osundina said.

Christian Bader, French Ambassador to South Sudan advised the government to make good use of the funds.

“What we do with this little money has to be relevant, meaningful and this is why we have made a choice to put the Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) on board,” Bader said.

 The project will be implemented by the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Commission (DDRC) with technical support from the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).