The Security Council this afternoon warmly welcomed the Peace Agreement signed by the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, on 30 November 1996, and expressed the hope that the Agreement would encourage those working for peace in other parts of Africa.

In a statement read out on the Council's behalf by its President, Francesco Paolo Fulci (Italy), the Council paid tribute to the courage and determination of all those who had worked tirelessly to bring the bitter conflict to an end. It commended, in particular, the role played by the Government of Côte d'Ivoire, whose commitment and determination in the chairmanship of the negotiations between the parties had been crucial to the successful outcome.

The Agreement was signed by Sierra Leone President Al Haji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and the Revolutionary United Front leader, Foday Saybana Sankoh.

The conflict in Sierra Leone began in March 1991. At the request of the then National Provisional Ruling Council, in November 1994, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali established good offices to encourage negotiations between the Government and the Revolutionary United Front. The Security Council welcomed the designation of the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Sierra Leone in February 1995. Multiparty legislative and presidential elections were held on 26 and 27 February 1996 and Al Haji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was inaugurated as President on 29 March.

The meeting, which was called to order at 12:49 p.m., was adjourned at 12:55 p.m.

For further details please see source:
MEETINGS COVERAGE

For further details please see official record:
S/PV.3720

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