DDR: THE CASE OF WEST AFRICA AND THE GREAT LAKES REGION

This case study by Richard Cornwell examines the limitations of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) processes in West Africa and the Great Lakes region. The author argues that technical DDR successes are often illusory if they are not preceded by planning for reintegration and a fundamental shift from a 'conflict economy' to a 'peace economy'.

• The author contends that the sequencing of DDR is often misunderstood, arguing that planning for reintegration (R) must occur before the execution of disarmament and demobilisation (DD) for the process to be effective. While DD is highly visible and easier to achieve, reintegration is the critical component for preventing a return to war.
• Successful reintegration requires a transition from a 'conflict economy' to a 'peace economy', involving a change in the control of economic production and exchange. This is difficult because the pre-conflict economy may have been unable to sustain the population, and those who gained power through the conflict are often reluctant to relinquish their advantages.
• In West Africa, the author notes that conflict economies transcend national borders, meaning a 'peace economy' in one state can be undermined by a 'conflict economy' in a neighboring state. While some DDR statistics in the region appeared positive, the author asserts this was dependent on 'robust force' and the creation of conditions similar to an 'international protectorate'.
• In the Great Lakes region, the author describes DDR efforts as largely ineffective or 'a cynical joke'. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is little evidence of progress toward disarmament despite formal agreements. In Burundi, armed factions are unwilling to proceed with DDR until rivals are defeated, and the author suggests that maintaining the potential for violence remains a tool for political dominance.

APA

Cornwell, R. (n.d.). DDR: THE CASE OF WEST AFRICA AND THE GREAT LAKES REGION. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CIVILCORNWELL.PDF

Chicago

Cornwell, Richard. DDR: THE CASE OF WEST AFRICA AND THE GREAT LAKES REGION. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CIVILCORNWELL.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cornwell |first1=Richard |title=DDR: THE CASE OF WEST AFRICA AND THE GREAT LAKES REGION |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CIVILCORNWELL.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cornwellndddr, author = {Cornwell, Richard}, title = {{DDR: THE CASE OF WEST AFRICA AND THE GREAT LAKES REGION}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/CIVILCORNWELL.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }