Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration – An underdeveloped diplomatic tool in Yemen

Abstract

Abstract Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) is the process of removing weapons from members of armed groups, detaching those ex-combatants from their groups and helping them to safely return to normal society. DDR has great potential to deliver significant peace benefits to communities undergoing conflict. As it has evolved, UN DDR has broadened in scope and now has the committed aim of ensuring linkages with political processes as one of its strategic priorities. With regard to the situation in Yemen, however, the earliest UN Yemen DDR advisory forums singularly misunderstood the breadth of UN DDR and indeed advocated for a halt to any DDR initiatives taking place in Yemen prior to the signing of a peace accord. In addition, there was a lack of sensitization of other UN agencies or key stakeholders to the possibilities of Pre-DDR, PDR or CVR. This has therefore led to the near absent or inadequate planning by the UN for both DDR and related stabilization efforts in Yemen. This is seemingly a missed opportunity and at odds with bringing the benefits of DDR to the people of Yemen as the UN has in other countries experiencing protracted conflict.