Aid for disarmed civilians following vocational training

The UN-supported National Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reinsertion Programme (DDR) in the Central African Republic has begun its distribution of work tools to 220 civilians who voluntarily surrendered firearms and had undergone four months of vocational training in the capital, Bangui, an official told IRIN on Friday. Each trainee received tools worth US $500 in the distribution that started on Monday, the director of the disarmament programme, said. He said the disarmed civilians underwent training in auto-mechanics, electricity and carpentry, among other trades. "At the end of training in late December [2003], the trainees also underwent courses in management, project design, marketing, accountancy, cost estimation and business planning," Harouna said. He added that these courses, which lasted five days, would enable the trainees to prepare project proposals for submission to donors such as the UN Development Programme. Set up in January 2002 to recover illegally held weapons, the office for the disarmament programme set aside 35 million francs CFA ($58,300) for vocational training and $110,000 to buy equipment for the trainees upon completion of their courses. Between 15 June 2002 and 15 March 2003, the disarmament office recovered 209 small arms, three machine guns, 134,000 rounds of ammunition, 1,361 grenades, 27 mortar bombs, 54 rockets and one antipersonnel landmine - all of which were burnt on 25 July 2003. The disarmament office was due to be closed in January 2005 but because of the different crises, Harouna said, it would remain open until 31 January 2004. He said that talks were underway with the country's partners to launch a similar disarmament programme for former combatants and former soldiers willing to engage in civilian occupations. "If the partners approve the programme, it may start in March," he added. Since mid-1990s, the CAR has undergone repeated crises, the latest being the October 2002-March 2003 rebellion that ended with former army chief of staff Francois Bozize ousting President Ange-Felix Patasse on 15 March 2003. Former soldiers who have returned from exile since the coup, as well as former rebels loyal to Bozize, are being absorbed into the army or into the public service while former pro-Patasse militiamen have not been incorporation into the disarmament programme so far.