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Disarmament in the Crossfire: Challenges of Implementing DDR Programmes Amidst Ongoing Conflict in Ethiopia

Romare, Hannes LU (2025) FKVK02 20251
Department of Political Science
Abstract
371, 971 ex-combatants are to be disarmed, demobilised, and reintegrated in Ethiopia. This makes it the largest Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) process globally. However, Ethiopia is still experiencing armed conflict in its two biggest regions, Amhara and Oromia. The aim of this thesis is to examine the challenges of implementing a DDR-programme amidst ongoing conflict in Ethiopia. This is done by conducting a qualitative research study, consisting of nine expert interviews with practitioners actively working in the Ethiopian DDR-process. A thematic analysis of the interview material, grounded in a theoretical approach based on findings of previous research on cases of DDR-implementation within a context of ongoing... (More)
371, 971 ex-combatants are to be disarmed, demobilised, and reintegrated in Ethiopia. This makes it the largest Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) process globally. However, Ethiopia is still experiencing armed conflict in its two biggest regions, Amhara and Oromia. The aim of this thesis is to examine the challenges of implementing a DDR-programme amidst ongoing conflict in Ethiopia. This is done by conducting a qualitative research study, consisting of nine expert interviews with practitioners actively working in the Ethiopian DDR-process. A thematic analysis of the interview material, grounded in a theoretical approach based on findings of previous research on cases of DDR-implementation within a context of ongoing armed conflict and what this thesis has named an “Illustrative DDR-Disruptive Chain”, has been used to examine the challenges of the Ethiopian DDR-process. This thesis finds that the core challenges to the Ethiopian DDR-process are: (1) The existence of spoilers; (2) A lack of funding; and (3) Commitment issues among armed groups to the conflicts. The findings of this thesis reveal unique DDR-Conflict dynamics: the dual impact of DDR in conflict zones—reducing combatants while risking factionalism and recidivism. The study fills an empirical gap within DDR-literature by analyzing Ethiopia’s under-researched DDR-process and contributes to broader DDR literature by highlighting complexities of implementation in active conflict. (Less)
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author
Romare, Hannes LU
supervisor
organization
course
FKVK02 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
DDR, Ethiopia, Spoilers, Donor fatigue, Subjective security, Peacebuilding
language
English
id
9191065
date added to LUP
2025-08-08 11:24:56
date last changed
2025-08-08 11:24:56
@misc{9191065,
  abstract     = {{371, 971 ex-combatants are to be disarmed, demobilised, and reintegrated in Ethiopia. This makes it the largest Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) process globally. However, Ethiopia is still experiencing armed conflict in its two biggest regions, Amhara and Oromia. The aim of this thesis is to examine the challenges of implementing a DDR-programme amidst ongoing conflict in Ethiopia. This is done by conducting a qualitative research study, consisting of nine expert interviews with practitioners actively working in the Ethiopian DDR-process. A thematic analysis of the interview material, grounded in a theoretical approach based on findings of previous research on cases of DDR-implementation within a context of ongoing armed conflict and what this thesis has named an “Illustrative DDR-Disruptive Chain”, has been used to examine the challenges of the Ethiopian DDR-process. This thesis finds that the core challenges to the Ethiopian DDR-process are: (1) The existence of spoilers; (2) A lack of funding; and (3) Commitment issues among armed groups to the conflicts. The findings of this thesis reveal unique DDR-Conflict dynamics: the dual impact of DDR in conflict zones—reducing combatants while risking factionalism and recidivism. The study fills an empirical gap within DDR-literature by analyzing Ethiopia’s under-researched DDR-process and contributes to broader DDR literature by highlighting complexities of implementation in active conflict.}},
  author       = {{Romare, Hannes}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Disarmament in the Crossfire: Challenges of Implementing DDR Programmes Amidst Ongoing Conflict in Ethiopia}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}