South Sudan is set to demobilize about 150,000 members of the organized forces in a bid to professionalize its army.
Liaison Officer Colonel Benjamin Makuer Mabor Nak said in Torit that the Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programme aims at demobilizing 80,000 soldiers and 70,000 form the police service, including prisons, fire fighters and wildlife rangers.Col. Makuer added that the exercise takes off next year with the demobilization of 4,500 combatants.
He explained that the entire DDR programme is to last for eight years.
The program assists to reintegrate ex-servicemen into civilian communities and to provide them with some livelihood skills.
It will also facilitate the release, return and reintegration of children associated with armed forces and other groups into their families.