An agreement for effective demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants was penned between the National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC) and the Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council (ECSOC), as the country flogs to the post-war era. It entails possible efforts on society awareness, capacity-building, information exchange, and human resources during the process. Commissioner Teshome Toga and Hanna Woldegebriel, a representative from the Council inked the memorandum of understanding last week. Teshome said the partnership would play a major role in an effective Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) program which was launched by the Commission eight months ago. With a budget slated to nearly 29.7 billion Br, an estimated 25,000, ex-combatants from various regional states, including Tigray, Amhara, Afar, Oromia, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Gambella will be included. Properly implementing a DDR program requires orientation towards clear objectives, centralisation of parties to the conflict, and an inclusive political process. Ethiopia had two previous undertakings. A 198 million-dollar project following the fall of the Derg regime 32 years ago, demobilised half a million soldiers but faced challenges in reintegrating them. A 174 million-dollar effort over five years following the conflict with Eritrea, demobilised and reintegrated nearly 150,000 former combatants into civilian life by relying heavily on international funds.
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