Republic of Korea Supports Demobilisation and Reintegration of Ex-combatants in Ethiopia

The Republic of Korea is contributing US$3 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the demobilisation and reintegration of over 370,000 ex-combatants in Ethiopia.

UNDP is managing a multi-partner DDR programme that supports the work of the National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC) established following the end of a two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia.

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Mr. Jung Kang elaborated on the partnership: “The Republic of Korea recognizes the significant strides Ethiopia has made towards DDR initiative, and we are proud to support these efforts through our contribution to the UNDP.

This contribution is not merely financial; It is a symbol of our solidarity and belief in Ethiopia’s bright future.

We commend the Ethiopian Government for its dedication to this cause and the UNDP for its unwavering support and expertise. Together, we can pave the way for a peaceful and prosperous Ethiopia.”

A commitment to disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants was part of the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) signed by the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in Pretoria, in November 2022.

National Rehabilitation Commissioner Mr. Temesgen Tilahun said: “The NRC is grateful to the people and government of the Republic of Korea for the swift and timely response to our support request for the DDR program. We believe that this initial grant will be strengthened further, showcasing the long-standing people-to-people relations between our two brotherly nations. We once again call upon friends and partners of Ethiopia to strengthen support for our peace-building initiatives through the DDR program, which is now the largest in the world. ”

The DDR programme helps ex-combatants to transition to civilian life formally, thus promoting stability and peace in the country. The Humanitarian Assistance Funding from the Republic of Korea will go towards a financial package provided to the ex-combatants as they leave the demobilisation camps and return to their homes to reintegrate into society.

UN Resident Coordinator for Ethiopia, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov heads one of the largest UN country teams in the world. He said: “The UN’s engagement in the DDR demonstrates our commitment to helping people and communities transition from an emergency and a crisis to one focused on sustainable development. We are committed to a harmonised approach within the UN, and with our partners to humanitarian-development-peace nexus.”

Once the ex-combatants are back in their communities, the DDR programme will follow up with them to facilitate access to livelihood opportunities for those who cannot return to their previous employment. Psychosocial services will also be provided to help with conflict trauma. This approach helps to ensure that the ex-combatants are not a burden on already vulnerable communities trying to rebuild following the devastation to infrastructure, lives, and livelihoods during the conflict.

“Ethiopia is implementing one of the largest DDR programmes in the world,” said Charu Bist, Resident Representative (officer-in-charge) for UNDP in Ethiopia, adding, “We appreciate the support from Korea to this complex and multifaceted priority process. The funding comes at a critical time as the NRC finalizes the preparations to demobilise the first batch of around 75,000 ex-combatants by the end of 2024.”

The Republic of Korea joins other development partners, such as the European Union and the Governments of Japan and USAID who have signed agreements with UNDP to support the DDR process in Ethiopia.

UNDP is managing the DDR programme (20223-2026) as one of five windows within a wider governance and Peace Support Facility that has been rolled out in Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions with support from Germany, Japan and UNDP’s Funding Windows. The other windows are: Local governance, human rights, and social cohesion; Basic social services; Economic revival; and solutions to internal displacement.

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Source: This news article is authored by UNDP and was originally published on their website.