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The UN Security Council has expressed concern over the slow pace of disarmament by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Bombali District, northern Sierra Leone.
As at Wednesday only 12 RUF fighters and two from the pro-government Civil Defence Forces (CDF) had handed in their weapons since disarmament started on 21 September in Bombali, an RUF area, according to UN Mission in Sierra Leone spokesperson Margaret Novicki. The RUF had told officials its combatants had not disarmed because they were unhappy with the location of the demobilisation centre. Arrangements have since been made to move the centre to a building in Makeni and work is ongoing to get the building ready to receive combatants, Novicki reported.
UN Security Council President Richard Ryan, following a briefing by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations on the progress on the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme (DDR), said that concerns raised by the RUF were being addressed and were no excuse for delaying the DDR process. The RUF can air its concerns at the regular tripartite meetings with UNAMSIL and the government of Sierra Leone, the Security Council said on Wednesday in a press statement. The next meeting is due to take place on 11 October.
Council members urged all former combatants, including the CDF, to participate fully in the DDR programme to ensure the long-term stability of Sierra Leone.
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