STEP 2
Assess the Fighting Forces
Once a mediator is fully familiarized with DDR concepts and issues, he or she needs to develop a solid understanding of the fighting forces. Mediators should carefully engage the negotiating parties on the appropriateness of DDR and/or other security issues to analyze the reactions of the negotiating parties and their fighting forces. By doing so, mediators will be in a better position to assess the best time and manner in which DDR issues should or could be raised in the peace process. This section outlines the key issues that need to be assessed, the possible ways of engaging armed groups, and the strategies for exposing fighting groups to the issue of DDR.
Understand the Strategic Objectives of the Conflict Parties
Mediators should, at the outset, identify the strategic objectives of the conflict parties. Central to this inquiry is the study of the character of the fighting forces themselves. What are the parties trying to achieve through the use of force? Have these objectives been achieved? Why have they decided to engage in negotiations now? Do they have a political platform or are they predatory in nature (i.e., are they exploiting the conflict to profit illicitly from the country's resources)? Do they need assistance to articulate the rationale for their armed struggle? The objectives of the armed groups will affect the manner in which the mediator will engage them on DDR issues.
The liberation movements in El Salvador, Namibia, Nepal, Northern Ireland, Mozambique, South Africa, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe all had clear political objectives and were well organized. These characteristics allowed mediators and their negotiating counterparts to engage the movements in substantive discussions regarding the political future that they sought for their countries. Conversely, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Darfur, the wide array of armed groups, most of which have no clear political objecti