Background
In 2005, the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement marked the end of over twenty years of civil war in Southern Sudan. An overwhelming 99.9% of Southerners later voted in the 2011 referendum to secede from the north and create The Republic of South Sudan. Despite the end of the conflict however, more lives continue to be placed in danger as a result of landmines, explosive remnants of war and the massive proliferation of small arms and light weapons among the population.

Danish Demining Group (DDG) began working in southern Sudan in 2006, firstly in the area of Humanitarian Mine Action and in 2009, in the field of Armed Violence Reduction. Through these two areas of work – and in close coordination with the recovery work of Danish Refugee Council (DRC) – DDG strives to create safe environments where people can lead peaceful lives free of the threats of explosives or armed violence. DDG and DRC work in partnership in Central Equatoria, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap states, while DDG also maintains its own operations in Western and Eastern Equatoria states.

Mine Action
The Danish Demining Group supports refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and host communities through the delivery of Mine Risk Education and explosive ordnance disposal. DDG’s Village-by-Village concept and community-driven ethos ensures that teams respond to the concerns and fears of community members about contamination in their areas. DDG also coordinates its activities through the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre (UNMACC) and the South Sudan Demining Authority (SSDA).

Explosive ordnance disposal

• 80,616m2 of contaminated land was cleared for homes, agricultural and commercial use in the first half of 2011
• 31,297 pieces of unexploded ordnance and 138 landmines have been destroyed since the start of 2011

Participants in a focus group discussion in Kulipapa boma, Central Equatoria shared that because of DDG’s work clearing unexploded ordnance in their area, they are able to extend their settlements away from the main roads because they feel safe enough to do so.

Mine Risk Education

• Over 10,000 women and girls have participated in risk education classes
• Over 12,000 men and boys have participated in risk education classes

Findings from community interviews show that the majority of residents learned about the presence of unexploded ordnance through unintentional encounters, and children are particularly vulnerable to the presence of these items in South Sudan. Mine risk education activities focus on identifying risky behavior among children and protecting them from explosive accidents.

Armed Violence Reduction
In response to many years of war, weapons and armed violence are commonplace throughout South Sudan. DDG addresses these issues by analyzing the causes of armed violence, using the OECD’s Armed Violence Lens, and by developing tailored interventions to address the root causes of such conflicts. DDG first deployed Armed Violence Reduction teams in Eastern Equatoria in late 2009 and in 2011 expanded alongside DRC into Northern Bahr El Ghazal and Central Equatoria states. To date these interventions have included:

• 400 people trained in Conflict Management Education
• 500 people received Small Arms Sensitisation
• 12 local government officials trained in conflict analysis for Conflict Early Warning system
• 5 Community-Police Cooperation workshops held for a total of 255 participants
• 50 SPLA, BCSSAC and SSPS staff trained in safe storage, marking and destruction of small arms and light weapons
• 6 Police staff trained in community policing, gender sensitive policing and child protection
• 10 SPLA officers and 200 community members participated in Firearm Safety Education

Impact
A February 2011 impact study completed in Bur payam in Torit County of Eastern Equatoria State shows amongst others the following impact of DDG’s Armed Violence Reduction activities:

Reduced violence and conflict

• Increase from 41% to 67% in people who say that the level of armed violence in their community has reduced compared to one year ago
• Reduction from 56% to 34% in people who fear becoming a victim of a crime or violent encounter
• Increase from 23% to 71% in people with no security concerns
• 83% of community members find that DDG’s conflict management education has reduced conflict in their community

Improved security provision and conflict management

• 27% increase in community trust in police
• 740% increase in community rating of police efficiency
• 509% increase in community rating of police accessibility
• 75% of community members find that conflict management has improved in their community after DDG’s interventions