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Sierra Leone Government And Opposition Sign Ceasefire Agreement
by Joel Olatunde Agoi and Ola Awoniyi
ABUJA (AFP) - A ceasefire to halt hostilities in war-torn Sierra Leone was signed early Saturday at a peace meeting here, officials told AFP.
The ceasefire followed a meeting brokered by West African leaders between Sierra Leone's government and the opposition, which began Friday in Nigeria's capital, and ended shortly after midnight, a communiqué released at the end of the meeting said.
The talks, attended by a government delegation from Freetown and delegates of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) agreed that the United Nations Missions in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) would monitor the ceasefire, the statement said.
The parties agreed "to declare and observe a ceasefire and to halt hostilities with effect from 10th day of November, 2000 starting at midnight," the statement said.
A review of the agreement is to be undertaken within 30 days of its enforcement, it added.
The parties also agreed not to frustrate the peace process.
"The parties agree to refrain from committing any act or carrying out any activity that might constitute or facilitate a violation of the ceasefire," it said.
Under the deal, the RUF committed itself to the immediate return of all weapons, ammunitions and other equipment seized by its forces.
An immediate disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of troops are to commence, the ceasefire statement said.
Further illegal importation of arms, ammunitions and other weapons of war will constitute a violation of the ceasefire agreement, it added.
It said UNAMSIL would have full liberty to deploy its troops and other personnel throughout the war-ravaged country, including the diamond producing areas.
It is intended that the new Abuja ceasefire deal will put a July 1999 peace agreement signed in Lome back on the rails.
Conflict began in Sierra Leone with an RUF insurrection in 1991 and has ravaged the country ever since, with extreme brutality shown by RUF fighters.
The one-day meeting in Nigeria was also aimed at laying the ground for direct talks between the government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and the RUF, under the new leadership of General Issa Sessay.
A six-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Committee on Sierra Leone brokered the talks, which were also expected to consider a political agenda put forward by the RUF.
But Sierra Leonean government officials have ruled out discussing any political demands by the RUF following the group’s participation in the Lome accord.
Former RUF leader Corporal Foday Sankoh obtained vice-presidential status under last year's peace agreement until renewed hostilities broke out.
Sankoh is now in government custody in devastated Sierra Leone, where a stretched U.N. force is now endeavoring to keep the peace.
The six members of the ECOWAS Committee on Sierra Leone are Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Mali and Togo. The U.N. Secretary-General's special envoy to Sierra Leone, Olu Adeniji, and ECOWAS Executive Secretary Lansana Kouyate attended the meeting.
The talks followed a decision by a ministerial meeting in Abuja of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council on October 4th.
The 10-member Council was set up this year during the 22nd ECOWAS summit in Lome as one of the structures for the resolution of conflicts in the West African region.
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