Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration in War torn Societies in Africa in the context of Human Rights: Rights of ex-combatants and Justice for victims

Abstract

The policy paper sought to establish the efficacy of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) in Post-War Societies in Africa in the context of international Humanitarian law especially the Convention on Treatment of Prisoners of War and justice for victims. The policy paper was undertaken through examination of empirical studies evaluating DDR implementation in various contexts including frameworks, challenges and successes. The paper examined policy papers done under the auspices of UN and AU. The process will also involve examining various case studies of DDR implementation in Africa. The paper will then identity policy options for post conflict societies in Africa and ensuring recommendations. The analysis concludes that the process of implementation of DDR process in post conflict societies in Africa have been marred with challenges. The international community including the UN has been either overreaching in in the DDR processes or not involved at all. A good mix of involvement neutral third party is needed to ensure unbiasedness that may compromise human rights in the process especially those of ex-combatants. Special treatment of marginalized groups within the larger ex-combatant’s community has been lacking in most DDR processes. The women, children and war disabled have tended not to receive fair treatment in the whole process thereby compromising their human rights such as right to education for children and right to fair involvement of women in social and political issues in the society as espoused in UNSCR 1325 of (2000).