Thread by @BurbridgeDuke

A quick 🧵on #DDR in #Tigray.
Over the course of my career, I have become very familiar with DDR programs on three different continents.

It is important that the UN and AU not throw the DDR concept under the bus to legitimize the charade in Pretoria.
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If they are going to continue to refer to this as DDR, it will be important for responsible peacebuilders to hold the program to some standard of "good practices" and recognize red flags.

This, for example. 🚩👇
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The Ethiopian DDR plan is internment. If it was real, there would be considerations about economic reintegration, protection of former fighters, particularly treatment of demobilized female combatants in the hands of forces credibly accused of crimes against humanity and SBV.
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If the Ethiopian DDR program is real, the proposal will be comprehensive, with an emphasis on both the social and economic reintegration of former fighters. This is where peace is often won or lost. I don't expect to see these elements; I don't think anyone else does either.
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There are volumes of research on DDR and examples of good programs, some outside-led, others almost entirely self-led.

Some have been successful; others have failed. Admittedly, there is no silver bullet for success, but there are early indicators of failure.
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I know that concepts like economic reintegration seem absurd while the Ethiopian government continues to crush the economy of Tigray.

Psycho-social support is also absurd while everyone involved in the peace process continues to ignore the trauma experienced by Tigrayans.
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Stop pretending that all of the bad decisions that international actors have made regarding Ethiopia somehow lowers the bar for effective DDR. @antonioguterres @MikeHammerUSA @SecBlinken @USIP @AfPeacebuilding
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