South Sudan rebels start to disarm

JUBA – Former rebels who fought a devastating 22-year civil war in south Sudan began laying down their arms yesterday as the United Nations’ biggest demobilisation programme stepped up a gear.

It is hoped that a total of 180 000 former fighters will pass through the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration programme, a key part of the 2005 peace deal that ended the conflict between north and south in which an estimated 1.5 million people died.’We are not casting you away, but reassigning you to new and important roles and duties, to build a new Sudan,’ Luka Monoja, cabinet affairs minister in the southern regional government, told the first 16 troops to be demobilised yesterday.’You must go with your heads held high, we are proud of you,’ Monoja added, speaking on behalf of southern regional president Salva Kiir.The UN-backed programme began in north Sudan in February with the demobilisation of government troops and irregular forces who fought alongside them. A total of 4 300 men have been disarmed in the north so far.The programme foresees the disarmament of equal numbers of forces from both sides in the conflict between the Muslim north and mainly Christian and animist south.UN humanitarian coordinator for south Sudan Lise Grande hailed the disarming of Sudan People’s Liberation Army fighters as a key component in the peace process.Under the staggered scheme, soldiers put forward by their commanders will be assessed, electronically registered and given medical checks at special centres.They will then be given a package of cash, food and essentials such as basic tools. – Nampa-AFP