AU official commends government on demobilisation funds

EASTERN PROVINCE KAYONZA — Proper use of money meant for demobilisation and reintegration of child soldiers and rebels, in the country has left a remarkable impact, an official of the African Union [AU] has said. The Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission [RDRC] is the government organ mandated to carry out demobilisation and reintegration exercise in Rwanda. RDRC has used the money credibly and for the purpose. It is an indication that when you use the little you have in a proper way and efficiently you can achieve a lot, Geoffrey Mugumya, Director of peace and security on the AU Commission told The New Times at Amizero Training Center on Wednesday. He had led a delegation of AU officials to witness the pass out of 381 former child soldiers who had completed six-month training in different vocational skills; from different technical colleges across the country. Mugumya explained that the AU sponsors demobilisation and reintegration programmes in four countries of Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and DR Congo. He revealed that each of the countries was given $230,000 [about Frw125 m] to implement the programme. He said that once the pilot project is done without flouting the terms, the AU will appeal for more funding from their partners to continue the support. We must recognize that there is still a problem especially in the post conflict countries. I therefore appeal to our partners to give us more support so that we can help more and more people, Mugumya said adding, helping ex-combatants to reintegrate in society is an inducement that builds confidence and motivates more others who are still in bushes fighting alongside rebel groups to disarm. Jean Sayinzoga, the president of RDRC said the achievements of the demobilisation and reintegration exercise was as a result of good leadership in the country that comes from top and flows down to the lowest level. Without human capacity nations would not prosper. The AU gave us $320,000 [about 174] to train 100 former child combatants; but because the government had earlier put in place mechanisms for similar training, we managed to train 381, Sayinzoga said. We trained them in different skills: building, carpentry, tailoring, plumbing, electricity and saloon making. In addition to the training, each one is given a respective toolkit and Frw50,000 as initial capital, he added. Without naming, Sayinzoga said a certain country which equally got equal amount had spent all the funds to train beneficiaries on dangers of HIV/Aids; a statement that seemed not to go down well with the visiting team. Others on the visiting team were officials from the World Bank, United Nations, and International Committee of the Red Cross. Sayinzoga appealed to trainees to employ the acquired skills to eradicate poverty and to properly reintegrate in their societies. Commending partners and funders for excellent cooperation, Sayinzoga appealed for more support, saying more work needed to be done in the demobilisation and reintegration programme. Since its establishment in 1996, RDRC has so far demobilised about 6,000 former child soldiers of which 3,602 have been reunited with their families while about 700 Ex-Far soldiers have been reintegrated, he said further adding, many more need urgent assistance. Ends