The Lakes State Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) exercise, which will begin 5 October, plans to demobilize more than 4,062 ex-combatants, including 2,099 disabled people, 727 women and 598 elderly.

Addressing the forum, Acting DDR Commissioner for Lakes State Peter Mangui Malok said, "We are here today because the disarmament and demobilization program is going to be launched in this state. This forum is aimed at training opinion leaders on how the process will be."

Southern Sudan DDR Commission representative Elia Kamilo Dimo said the forum was targeting leaders like chiefs, officials, representatives from the six counties in the state, women, youth, civil society and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA).

Philip Kot Jok, Lakes State Director of the Southern Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission noted that community leaders like chiefs as well as women and youth were an integral part of the forum, as they were agents of societal change.

The programme will begin with the SPLA selecting, screening and handing over a list of candidates to the DRR Commission. The final reintegration stage will include packages of non-food items and food rations for three months as well as financial support for upkeep and training in building up ex-combatant's capacities as civilians.

"Rumbek will really benefit a lot from this workshop," said SPLA Disarmament Committee member First Lieut. Moses Malual, adding that DDR would also serve to remove guns from the hands of future civilians.