Sierra Leone

Media Release

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer

17 May 2000 (fa41)

Sierra Leone

Australia will provide AUD $750,000 for the UNICEF Child Protection Program in Sierra Leone. The war in Sierra Leone has caused the separation of at least 10,000 children from their families and at least a further 5000 children have been abducted and conscripted as child soldiers. UNICEF, through its Child Protection Program, will provide support to children who have been separated from their families as a consequence of the war and seek to reintegrate children associated with the fighting forces. This assistance follows an earlier contribution of AUD$200,000 to the same UNICEF program in 1999.

I am gravely concerned with the crisis in Sierra Leone where the Revolutionary United Front, led by Mr Foday Sankoh, is actively attempting to undermine the UN Peacekeeping operation and regional efforts to restore peace and stability.

Although the security situation in Sierra Leone seems to have improved over recent days, largely as a result of the deployment of British troops and the reinforcement of UN peacekeeping capacity, the position is still highly precarious. Despite unconfirmed reports that some have been released, I am deeply concerned with what appears to be the continuing detention of several hundred UN personnel and the widespread loss of civilian life.

I deplore the fact that the RUF has clearly failed to honour its commitments at the time of the Lome Peace Agreement. I strongly support continuing efforts by the UN Secretary-General and West African leaders to seek the release of the hostages and to get the Peace Agreement back on track.

Earlier this month, in London, I joined other members of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group in urging the RUF to proceed, without further delay, to disarm and demobilise its combatants in accordance with the provisions of the Lome Agreement to release all prisoners and to allow unhindered access to the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone to the areas under its control.

Australia is a strong supporter of UN peacekeeping efforts and a major contributor to the funding of UN peacekeeping operations. To date, Australia has contributed about AUD$5.5 million to the UN's peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone.

Media inquiries: James Baker (Ministerial) 02 62 77 7500

Matt Francis (Departmental) 02 62611555