You are here: Home » Sudan
Print this page

BICC's regional work on Sudan

Capacity-building on small arms control and DD&R in Southern Sudan

  • NEW! BICC Comic book.
    The Adventures of Simon - A New Beginning in the New Sudan.
    Download (pdf)
  • Newsletter (pdf)

Despite the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the North and South in January 2005 - effectively ending a decades-long civil war that claimed more than 2 million lives and uprooted millions more - small arms violence continues to plague the people of Southern Sudan.

Children in AyodThese weapons are the deadly legacy of decades of conflict. It is estimated that every household in Southern Sudan either owns or has access to at least one weapon. Children and youth have been exposed to these weapons from a very early age, and livelihoods often rely on the rule of the gun. In this environment, tackling the demand for small arms is as critical as controlling the supply of these deadly weapons.

The effects of these weapons are numerous and grave. Because small arms are held by ordinary civilians and armed forces alike, abuse and misuse is high. These weapons exacerbate inter-ethnic rivalries and local conflicts over cattle and access to water and grazing land, among other things. The result is continued insecurity and mistrust between groups at the local, state and national levels.

SPLA Officer with BICC brochureSince 2004, the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) has provided consultancy and training for the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and members of civil society on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DD&R) and small arms control issues. Group presentation in BorIn 2006, BICC shifted its efforts to capacity-building through the delivery of targeted training courses for civil society and government officials.The aim of these activities is to promote awareness on the threat of small arms and the importance of control measures at all levels of society, and in a sustainable manner. In the 2007-08 project cycle, these activities consist of three core elements:

BICC's Sudan project is generously funded by the Global Peace and Security Fund of the Government of Canada. For more information on Canada's activities in Sudan, see www.canadasudan.gc.ca.

Project team at BICC:


^ Top