Tripoli, Wednesday 7 May 2014: The Commission of the African Union (AU) and its partners, notably the United Nations and the World Bank, yesterday, 6 May 2014 conducted a one-day briefing for the Libyan Government on Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR). The briefing, carried out within the framework of the AU DDR Capacity Programme, was requested by the Libyan authorities to assist them in addressing the challenges of the DDR process in Libya and also to discuss possible assistance by international partners.
Held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tripoli, the briefing was officially opened by the Libyan Under-Secretary for Political Affairs, Madam Wafa Taher Bughaighis. Presentations were made by representatives of the Libyan Government; the AU; the Libyan Programme for Reintegration and Development (formerly the Warrior Affairs Commission); the UN Mission in Libya (UNSMIL); and the Transitional Demobilisation and Reintegration Program (TDRP) of the World Bank. More than 80 participants attended, representing relevant Libyan structures and institutions, including the Ministries of Defence, Interior and Labour, as well as civil society organisations.
The participants noted that current DDR activities in Libya focused primarily on the registration and provision of support for ex-combatants, and their reintegration into civilian life or into the security forces. They said that aspects relating to disarmament and demobilisation were not therefore receiving adequate attention. The African Union, the United Nations and the World Bank shared their experiences in DDR in other countries, and they highlighted areas of possible DDR engagement in Libya by the AU and its partners.