From “Rebel” to “Returnee”

Abstract

In war’s aftermath, many young soldiers attempt to reintegrate and reestablish their lives. Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programs are a priority intervention for youth in postconflict countries; yet there is little evidence to suggest what aids reintegration. This research uses qualitative methodology to describe the issues salient to adolescents and young adults in daily life after returning from a rebel group in northern Uganda. It explores the process of reintegration with 23 male youth abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and draws on a representative quantitative survey of 741 abducted and nonabducted youth in the region. Participants described returning home, their reception by families and neighbors, feelings after returning, and how they negotiated the transition from being a “rebel” to a “formerly abducted child’ and a member of their family and community.