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Sustained peace in Sierra Leone 'inconceivable' without regional peace - Annan

27 June – The extended presence of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) has assured a stable environment and enabled steady progress in national reconstruction efforts, but sustained peace in the country is "inconceivable" without peace in neighbouring States, Secretary-General Kofi Annan warns in a new report.

Mr. Annan's report to the Security Council covers the prevailing situation in Sierra Leone and the progress made in downsizing UNAMSIL, whose mandate was extended in March due to the continuing fragile security situation in the country.

"Tangible progress has been made in the efforts to consolidate peace, including the reintegration of some 48,000 out of the 57,000 disarmed ex-combatants, the completion of the resettlement of internally displaced persons and the acceleration of the repatriation and resettlement of Sierra Leonean refugees," Mr. Annan states.

He says the conflict in Liberia and the new dimension added to the instability in the subregion by the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire remained of serious concern.

"It is inconceivable to contemplate sustained peace in Sierra Leone in an unstable neighbourhood," Mr. Annan states. "The international community must, therefore, provide the necessary support for the ongoing peace negotiations on Liberia and the implementation of the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement in Côte d'Ivoire, which promise to pave the way for the return of stability to the subregion."

He adds that, "in the long term, the destabilizing impact of the circulation of 'freelance' fighters and small arms among the countries of the West Africa subregion underlines the need for an effective, concerted approach by Governments and all stakeholders towards promoting peace and development in the subregion."

In analyzing future options in the UNAMSIL drawdown process, Mr. Annan notes that delayed withdrawal would be desirable only in the event that either the internal security situation or the conflict in Liberia deteriorates to a level that would require a prolonged presence of the UN Mission to protect the Sierra Leone Government and the territorial integrity of the country.