PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SIERRA LEONE

PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SIERRA LEONE

Of the five benchmarks established to evaluate developments in Sierra Leone, the most progress had been achieved in the security sector, Daudi Mwakawago, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sierra Leone, said at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon.

Speaking after the Security Council’sunanimous adoption of resolution 1537 (2004), extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) until 30 September, he said police had been deployed all over the country, including the no-go areas of just a year and a half ago.

There had also been much progress in extending the Central Government’s authority throughout the country, he said.  But while government officials had been deployed everywhere, their effectiveness was hampered by the widespread destruction of infrastructure during Sierra Leone’s decade-long civil war.  Those in outlying areas found it difficult to communicate with the centre or to move around easily.

Illustrating the country’s success in achieving State control of the diamond industry, he noted that in 2000, the Government had received only $10 million in diamond revenues.  In 2003, through measures taken by the Government through the agency of the Security Council, diamonds had accounted for $76 million.  They were expected to bring in an estimated $150 million to $200 million in 2004.

He noted, however, that much work remained, particularly concerning the use of child miners, although UNAMSIL’S child protection unit was helping to deal with that problem.  In addition, the Government was forced to use paramount chiefs and traditional leaders in licensing all miners.  UNAMSIL’s maps were helpful in monitoring the exploitation of Sierra Leone’s numerous and far-flung alluvial diamond deposits.

Outlining the extension of good governance, the rooting out of corruption and reform of the civil service procurement system, Mr. Mwakawago said the Government had appointed an anti-corruption commission comprising national and international judges.  The Government had just received a report on the civil service and was working on reducing the bloated structure to a small, well trained and well paid bureaucracy that could deliver services to the people.  Another report, now under study, would lead to the reorganization of the procurement system, where corruption was rampant.

He said that, while the training of the army was continuing with assistance from the United Kingdom, it was behind schedule.  At the present rate, a new Sierra Leonean Army would be in place in 2007 rather than 2005.  It was also necessary to reduce the present 14,500-strong force –- including former rebel fighters recruited after the signing of the peace agreement -– to about 10,500, the number required in dealing with border problems or major conflagrations within the country.

Sierra Leone was presently calm and stable, he said, but the work of the Special Court for Sierra Leone could be a potential trigger for future problems.  Another potential hazard was the huge number of unemployed youth, many of them former combatants.

Asked when government forces would take over responsibility for law and order, he replied that they would do so progressively, once UNAMSIL determined their readiness.  However, the Mission would continue to provide overall security.

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