While each phase of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) contains challenges, the most delicate and urgent component is disarmament. Written by Peter Swarbrick, this operational manual aims to educate donors, managers and practitioners about some of the most important obstacles to successful DDR operations. Using examples from the DDR programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the manual identifies common problems and practical solutions that can be applied to a variety of apparently dissimilar disarmament processes.
The challenges analysed in this manual are limited to states exhibiting the following political and institutional contexts:
- The state has recently undergone serious armed conflict and may still lack complete control over its territory;
- The recent conflict may have involved neighbouring or foreign countries whose positions towards the state in question remain equivocal; and
- While the state is legitimate, the central government is beset by weaknesses, including financial and logistical, but has the support of the international community.
The social and cultural contexts of the country should be integrated into the crafting and managing of the DDR process. Notwithstanding, DDR managers, donors and practicioners are now beginning to recognise that common problems and practical solutions can be applied to individual DDR operations, however dissimilar these operations appear to be. The following is a sample of lessons learned from real-world examples:
- While it is necessary to engage many national and international actors in a DDR operation, the central government will need to establish its own entities dedicated to DDR. The legal framework of the DDR process must be established as a legal, national programme. The government must be seen as responsible for disarmament, even if it is being executed by other actors.
- Government funding for DDR will probably be inadequate and will need to be supplemented by donor contributions. Donor oversight and reporting requirements require considerable time and effort, especially when multiple donors are involved.
- A key task in DDR processes is management of expectations of both the agencies and organisations involved and armed combatants.
- Management of details of the armed combatants component of a DDR process can impact upon the success of the operation. Careful attention should be paid to disarmament camp site selection, control and discipline of armed combatants, reintegration issues and decisions about separating arms from combatants. Decisions on all major issues should be made by the integrated DRR operations team.
- Collection of reliable information about armed combatants and their weapons is crucial. A strong DDR data system with its own data collection specialist should be developed immediately. DDR management should be skeptical of numbers provided by armed group leaders.
- A successful DDR operation is dependent on an integrated team of organisations and agencies that understand their roles and responsibilities. One of the most important factors in the success or failure of a mission is the commitment and disposition of the individuals tasked with providing coherence to and coordination of the DDR operation.
