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Sierra Leone

Military forces of the Government of Sierra Leone and Military Observer Group (ECOMOG) forces provided by the Economic Com-munity of West African States (ECOWAS) were engaged in military opera-tions in Sierra Leone against the insurgent Revolutionary United Front (RUF) until mid-1999. At that time, the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF signed the Lome Peace Agreement, which provides for an end to hostilities and the disarmament, demobili-za-tion, and resettlement of the insurgent RUF forces. The United Nations Security Council in U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1270 and 1289 established the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) to facilitate implementation of the Lome Agreement and provide security at key locations and government buildings and at all sites of the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program, among other tasks.

In early May 2000, as UNAMSIL expanded its efforts to establish monitoring and disarmament sites in or near RUF-controlled territory, RUF forces initiated military activity in those areas, killing at least four peacekeepers, and capturing or isolating hundreds of UNAMSIL personnel. The United States consulted with the United Nations, members of the U.N. Security Council, troop-contributing countries and West African States on ways to resolve the crisis.

The US Embassy in Sierra Leone evacuated US citizens to minimize the number of U.S. citizens exposed to risk.

Sources and Methods

• DoD News Briefing May 9, 2000 -- We do have a team from -- with the European Command in Abuja ready to work with the Nigerians or other west African countries to figure out what their needs would be for airlift or other types of support.
• STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT May 11, 2000 -- UN Secretary General Annan and I agreed this morning that the international community must intensify international efforts to restore peace in Sierra Leone and to prevent a return to all-out civil war. The situation there has been grave.
• PRESS BRIEFING BY JAKE SIEWERT AND P.J. CROWLEY May 11, 2000 - We have a C-17 in Jordan right now, for example, that is prepared in the coming days to airlift some equipment for a special forces unit that is going into Sierra Leone to reinforce the Jordanian contingent that is already there.
• TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE May 15, 2000 - As a prudent planning measure, a U.S. coastal patrol vessel, USS THUNDERBOLT (PC 12), has deployed to the region to participate in an evacuation operation of U.S. personnel should such action become warranted. On May 12, a U.S. C-17 aircraft is scheduled to deliver urgently required ammunition and other supplies and equipment to Sierra Leone for the Jordanian contingent in UNAMSIL.
• Small U.S. Team to Assess Sierra Leone Situation By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service May 18, 2000 -- Seven U.S. service members are currently in Sierra Leone assessing security and transportation facilities as part of humanitarian efforts in the country.