Annan recommends extending UNOMSIL mandate

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recommended extending the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) for a further three months, until 13 June. In a report to the Security Council on Friday, he strongly condemned the appalling human rights violations in the country. He congratulated the West African intervention force ECOMOG for successfully pushing back the rebels from Freetown, but expressed concern over the proposed withdrawal of the Nigerian contingent in May. This could require a “major reappraisal” of the situation, he warned. In the meantime, he urged the international community to continue logistical support to ECOMOG and bilateral assistance to the Sierra Leone government.

Annan also considered that the government had confronted its problems with “skill and courage”, particularly President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah’s decision to allow jailed rebel leader Foday Sankoh to meet his rebel commanders. He said it was up the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) to give assurances it was committed to peace.

Should negotiations between the government and rebels take a favourable turn, UNOMSIL should remain in a position where it could render further assistance to the peace process, hence the recommendation to extend its mandate, Annan said. Given the improved security situation in Freetown, he said UNOMSIL would be re-established there as soon as possible. He also intended to deploy an additional human rights officer to UNOMSIL.