In a bid to garner support from the private sector for the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) project, the National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC) partnered with the Addis Abeba Chamber of Commerce & Sectoral Association (AACCSA) last week. The potential of the business community to contribute to peace and stability was underscored, during the panel discussion at the Inter-Luxury Hotel on Guinea Conakry (Tito) St. Mesenbet Shenkute, the president of Addis Chamber, expressed concern over the decline in international and domestic investment in Ethiopia amid bouts of conflict in different parts of the country. Political science fellow Yonas Ashine (PhD) presented a study highlighting the business community's inadvertent role in fueling conflicts. He emphasised the importance of an inclusive peace-building process, combining humanitarian intervention and reconciliation efforts. Shanko Delelegn, head of the commissioner secretariat, stressed the vital role of the business community in providing financial support for the DDR project, with a substantial financial requirement of 920 million dollars over the next three years. Funding is expected to be sourced from the government, donors, and private capital. He revealed that over 370,000 ex-combatants have agreed to enter the DDR program, with one branch already operational and providing services in Meqelle town, Tigray Regional State.

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