SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE END TO FIGHTING IN SIERRA LEONE

Press Release
SC/6129

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE END TO FIGHTING IN SIERRA LEONE

The Security Council this afternoon called for an immediate end to the fighting in Sierra Leone and urged the Revolutionary United Front whose attempt to overthrow the Government in 1991 began the conflict, to take advantage of the Secretary-General's offer of good offices to facilitate negotiations.

In a statement read out by its President, Salim bin Mohammed Al-Khussaiby (Oman), the Council also expressed concern at the suffering resulting from the conflict, in particular that of the nearly 2 million internally displaced Sierra Leoneans -- nearly half the population of the country -- and underlined the need for generous humanitarian assistance. It stressed the importance of a coordinated international humanitarian effort and, related to that need, deplored attacks on humanitarian convoys and demanded that those responsible cease such actions immediately.

The Council welcomed the Secretary-General's initiative in preparing, in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone, an action plan for the demobilization and reintegration of combatants. It also welcomed the programme of transition to democratic constitutional rule and supported the work of the Interim National Electoral Commission in preparing for the elections to be held on 26 February 1996, calling on Member States to provide the fullest possible material and financial support to the Commission.

The Council urged the Secretary-General to continue to closely monitor the situation.

The meeting, which was called to order at 1:25 p.m., was adjourned at 1:33 p.m.

Text of Statement

The full text of the statement which will be issued as document S/PRST/1995/57, reads as follows:

"The Security Council has considered the Secretary-General's report of 21 November on the situation in Sierra Leone (S/1995/975). It is deeply concerned at the conflict in that country, and at the suffering resulting from it, in particular that of the nearly 2 million internally displaced Sierra Leoneans. It calls for an early end to the fighting.

"The Security Council expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his offer of good offices in Sierra Leone, and urges the Revolutionary United Front to take advantage of that offer and to enter into negotiations. It thanks the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for his efforts, in coordination with the Organization of African Unity and the Commonwealth, to that end and welcomes the Secretary-General's decision that his Special Envoy's mission should continue for the time being.

"The Security Council stresses the importance it attaches to a coordinated international effort to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Sierra Leone. It welcomes the Secretary-General's efforts in this regard and his initiative in preparing, in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone, an action plan for the demobilization and reintegration of combatants. It underlines the need for generous humanitarian assistance in a situation in which nearly half the population of the country have been internally displaced, and calls upon Member States to provide such assistance. It commends those humanitarian agencies active in Sierra Leone. It deplores attacks on humanitarian convoys and demands that such attacks cease.

"The Security Council welcomes the programme of transition to constitutional rule set by the Government of Sierra Leone, which is crucial to the restoration of peace and stability in that country. It expresses its strong support for the work of the Interim National Electoral Commission (INEC) in preparing for the elections to be held on 26 February 1996. It welcomes the assistance being given by the United Nations to the INEC at the request of the Government of Sierra Leone, and calls upon Member States to provide the fullest possible material and financial support to the INEC in order to ensure the success of the elections.

"The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor closely the situation in Sierra Leone."

Security Council - 3 - Press Release SC/6129 3597th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1995

Secretary-General's Report on Sierra Leone

In his report to the Council (document S/1995/975) the Secretary-General calls on the Member States to provide the fullest possible material and financial support to the INEC of Sierra Leone, so that elections can be held in February 1996 as scheduled.

The report, which covers events over the last year and was submitted pursuant to a number of requests from Council members, states that despite a situation that is generally characterized by conflict, human suffering and economic decline, there are positive trends which, if assisted, would contribute to the re-establishment of peace and stability in the country. The Secretary- General urges the international community to demonstrate its solidarity with the people of Sierra Leone. Some initial steps must be taken to signal the international community's commitment to assist the democratization process, he says.

The Secretary-General says he is instructing the Department of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to field a team of experts to prepare, in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone, a plan for the demobilization and reintegration of combatants and to identify resources so that implementation of the plan can begin expeditiously. He has also instructed the Electoral Assistance Division to work closely with other United Nations agencies and programmes to assist INEC in coordinating international observers during elections and in strengthening national observer groups.

The Secretary-General expresses concern over the widening gap between the needs of the war-affected population and the resources available to humanitarian agencies. Unless the international community responds quickly to enhance the humanitarian agencies capacity to deliver relief assistance, in time and in sufficient quantity, the situation may become desperate. Members of the Security Council may consider admonishing those responsible for attacking relief convoys and urging them to refrain from such deplorable actions, the Secretary-General states.

Despite all efforts to contact it, the leadership of the Revolutionary United Front has remained elusive and unreasonable to initiatives for a meeting or negotiations, according to the report. The Secretary-General calls on the international community to urge the United Front to take advantage of his good offices and to initiate a process of negotiation. The Secretary-General will retain his Special Envoy in Sierra Leone, for the time being, to continue his efforts to establish a dialogue between the United Front and the Government and to support the process of democratization. Those efforts will be coordinated with the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the Commonwealth.

Security Council - 4 - Press Release SC/6129 3597th Meeting (PM) 27 November 1995

The conflict in Sierra Leone began in March 1991 when the forces of the United Front attempted to overthrow the Government. In April 1992, the Government was overthrown by a military coup and the National Provisional Ruling Council was established. However, the United Front continued its conflict with the new Government and efforts to engage the United Front in negotiations have been futile.

The new Government has committed itself to a programme of transition to democratic constitutional rule. Fifteen political parties have so been registered and have begun campaigning. The economic situation has deteriorated. It is estimated that some 75 per cent of total revenue is being expended on the war effort, while income from the production of agriculture and minerals has declined. Infrastructure damage has been enormous. The humanitarian situation is critical and nearly 2 million people, close to 50 per cent of the population, have been internally displaced.

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