September 12, 2002
The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) which is supposed to end in October this year, needs an extension of its mandate, not only to cement the successes already gained in the peace process but also to ensure that their gains are not quickly reversed by circumstances beyond the nation's borders.
Despite the constraints experienced by the Mission, its contribution to the end of our decade-long war and the ongoing peace and reconciliation process has been so great that many Sierra Leoneans believe that, had it not been for the Mission, we would still have been at war today.
Through the provision of logistics, men and materials to confront the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF), and coupled with the international recognition and support for the peace process, which began in 1999 with the Lome Peace Agreement, the Mission has fought hard, even loosing men and women in the process, to bring back not only peace to the country, but also to enhance and facilitate a lasting and sustainable peace, through the reconstruction, rehabilitation and reintegration of former combatants into their home communities.
All of these form a part of the process of reconciliation and peace building, necessary for national development and progress. It is important to note however that, although UNAMSIL concerns itself primarily with 'security in and around the country, it has also been very instrumental in providing assistance to all involved in the peace process and its eventual sustainability in the country.
Sierra Leoneans have become so acquainted with the Mission that many do not even went them to leave again. However we are all aware that, like the British forces, they too may have to leave someday. Before they do however, we would like them to make sure about certain things, the most important being the situation in Liberia.
We can all recall that our war was directly exported to us by Charles Taylor and his AFL rebels, because he felt we were opposing his rise to power through the establishment of an ECOMOG military base here in our country. He even promised to make us "taste the bitterness of war" and for the past ten years or more, we have been at the mercy of his rebels.
These rebels only saw sense in their senseless behaviour, when they got confronted by a greater force of arms, in UNAMSIL who ensured that peace, at all cost, was restored to our beloved land. Now that our war has been declared over, it is unfortunate that there is still fighting in Liberia, with the capacity to spill over again into our country.
The continued presence of UNAMSIL in this country, especially along the border with Liberia, would go a long way in discouraging anyone who may want to spread the fighting again across the border. Our soldiers have also deployed in the border regions, but due to our past experiences and lack of adequate materials to secure the borders, it would be more sensible for us to have foreign troops around, as a deterrent and a back-up for our troops.
That is perhaps the main reason why we would like the Mission to have another extension of its mandate. Another reason also is that since the peace we have is very fragile at the moment, the pullout of UNAMSIL could easily turn the country around into chaos and anarchy, especially if they pulled out when our troops were unprepared for taking full control of the country.
The guns may have fallen silent, but anything can happen, if UMAMSIL pulls out and leave a vacuum in the security of the nation. The majority of Sierra Leoneans are now very much acquainted with members of the Mission, and would not want to see them leave just now. There are those whose livelihood depends on the Mission and its staff of foreigners, and there are those who believe that the Mission's staff had effectively replaced tourists as a source of foreign exchange, and would not like to see them leave now.
Maybe the Security Council of the United Nations will not consider these points when they meet this week to decide on an extension of the Mission's mandate, but it is necessary for them to note the fears of the people of this country, who they have done so much to help. They must however consider that we are a very poor country, in a very poor region in Africa that requires all kinds of assistance to move ahead. UNAMSIL has been very kind and helpful to us, and has worked here efficiently since its establishment.
It is in this regard that we appeal to the world leaders to extend the Mission's mandate, for the period of time necessary for us to achieve full reconciliation and also to see an end to the rebellion in Liberia.
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