The Sierra Leone Web

 

AFRC Press Releases

A compilation of AFRC press releases for the period 5 July 1997 to 10 February 1998, in PDF format.

SLBS

Broadcast transcripts and news releases from the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service during AFRC rule, in PDF format.

18 January 2002 - Conflict officially ends with a ceremony in Freetown.

16 January 2002 - UN Security Council Resolution 1389 mandates UNAMSIL to assist with Sierra Leone's elections.

19 December 2001 - UN Security Council Resolution 1385 extends the ban on rough diamond exports imposed by Resolution 1306 for 11 months from 5 January 2002, exempting diamonds exported through the government's new Certificate of Origin Regime.

18 September 2001 - UN Security Council Resolution 1370 extends UNAMSIL's mandate until 30 March 2002.

27 August 2001
(RUF) Letter to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General calling for the establishment of an interim transitional government.

17 August 2001
(RUF) Letter to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General by RUF spokesman Gibril Massaquoi alleging the government and moved RUF detainees and asking for access to RUF members held in detention.

15 May 2001
RUF/CDF, Joint communique by Omrie Golley (RUF) and Hinga Norman (CDF) calling for a cessation of hostilities.

30 March 2001 - UN Security Council Resolution 1346 authorises an increase of UNAMSIL's strength to 17,500 military personnel, and extends its mandate to 30 September 2001.

22 December 2000 - UN Security Council Resolution 1334 extends UNAMSIL's mission until 31 March 2001.

December 2000 - U.N. Panel of Experts Report on Sierra Leone.

10 November 2000 - GOSL and RUF sign the Abuja Ceasefire Agreement.

20 September 2000 - UN Security Council Resolution 1321 extends UNAMSIL's mission until 31 December 2000.

5 September 2000 - UN Security Council Resolution 1317 extends UNAMSIL's mission until 20 September 2000.

20 August 2000 - Issa Sesay is chosen to succeed jailed Foday Sankoh as the RUF's "interim leader."

14 August 2000 - UN Security Council Resolution 1315 calls for the establishing of "a special court" with jurisdiction over those "who bear the greatest responsibility" for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

4 August 2000 - UN Security Council Resolution 1313 restructures and strengthens UNAMSIL, and extends its mandate to 8 September 2000.

5 July 2000 - UN Security Council Resolution 1306 prohibits the import of rough Sierra Leonean diamonds by any state.

30 May 2000
(RUF) Statement in support of the RUF by Fatou Mbaye Sankoh, the wife of detained RUF leader Foday Sankoh, to reporters in Johannesburg, South Africa which led to her expulsion from the country two days later.

19 May 2000 - UN Security Council Resolution 1299 authorises and expansion of the UNAMSIL force to 13,000 military personnel.

19 May 2000 - British Royal Marines arrive in Freetown in support of the United Nations peacekeeping force.

8 May 2000
Three purported documents taken from Foday Sankoh's house following on 8 May 2000. One is dated 11 February 2000; the other two are undated.

8 May 2000 - More than 20 protesters are shot outside Foday Sankoh's house in Freetown. Sankoh disappears for nine days. He is arrested when he reappears on 17 May.

1 May 2000 - RUF unleashes widespread attacks against UN peacekeepers.

May 2000
Foday Sankoh's list of RUF nominees for government posts. Published by the Vision newspaper on 10 May 2000.

24 February 2000
(RUF) RUF/RUFP leader Foday Sankoh's letter to guarantors of the Lomé Peace Accord alleging violations of the agreement.

7 February 2000 - UN Security Council Resolution 1289 expands UNAMSIL to 11,100 military personnel and extends UNAMSIL's mandate to 7 August 2000.

24 January 2000
(RUF) The RUFP's revised presentation to the second meeting of the Joint Implementation Committee on the Lome Peace Agreement.

20 January 2000
(RUF) The RUFP's presentation to the second meeting of the Joint Implementation Committee on the Lome Peace Agreement.

6 December 1999
(RUF) Statement delivered by RUFP Minister of Trade and Industry Mike Lamin at the Sierra Leonean Embassy during his trip to the United States to participate in the World Trade Organization Ministerial conference.

22 October 1999 - UN Security Council Resolution 1270 authorises the 6,000 United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).

3 October 1999
(AFRC and RUF) Statement on the historic return to Freetown, Sierra Leone, of the leaders of the Alliance of the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council.

1 October 1999
(AFRC) Former AFRC Chairman Lt.-Col. Johnny Paul Koroma describes negotiations with RUF leader Corporal Foday Sankoh in Monrovia, presents AFRC demands, and appeals to Sierra Leoneans "to forgive my men for atrocities that they might have committed."

18 September 1999
(SLA and AFRC) Position Statement of the Sierra Leone Army (SLA) and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC)

3 September 1999
(AFRC) The document issued by former AFRC Chairman Lt.-Col. Johnny Paul Koroma and 13 rebel officers with their grievances against the RUF and their list of demands.

20 August 1999 - UN Security Council Resolution 1260 authorises the strengthening of UNOMSIL's political, civil affairs, information, human rights and child protection elements.

7 July 1999
(RUF) Transcription of remarks by RUF leader Corporal Foday Saybana Sankoh at the signing of the Lome Accord.

7 July 1999 - GOSL and RUF sign Lome Peace Accord in Togo.

11 June 1999 - UN Security Council Resolution 1245 extends UNOMSIL's mandate to 13 December 1999.

31 May 1999
(RUF) Statement by RUF.

11 May 1999
(RUF) The RUF's working document for the peace talks in Lome following three weeks of internal consultations.

11 May 1999
(RUF) Recommendations for the settlement of the conflict in Sierra Leone.

11 May 1999
(RUF) "Lasting Peace in Sierra Leone: The Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone (RUF/SL) Perspective and Vision". Similar to the document above.

17 April 1999 - GOSL and RUF sign a ceasefire agreement in Togo.

9 April 1999
(RUF) Statement by RUF leader Corporal Saybana Sankoh to the National Consultative Conference on the Peace Process.

11 March 1999 - UN Security Council Resolution 1231 extends UNOMSIL's mandate until 13 June 1999.

21 February 1999
(RUF and UN) Joint communique issued following talks in Abidjan between the RUF and the U.N. Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Sierra Leone.

15 January 1999
(RUF) A call by the RUF high command in Kailahun District for an independent investigation into amputations carried out in Kono District and parts of the Northern Province.

12 January 1999 - UN Security Council Resolution 1220 extends UNOMSIL's mandate until 13 March 1999.

6 January 1999 - Rebel fighters, mostly from AFRC, launch a bloody attack on Freetown.

13 July 1998 - UN Security Council Resolution 1181 authorises a 70-member United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL).

5 June 1998 - UN Security Council Resolution 1181 terminates the arms embargo on the Government of Sierra Leone, but prohibits arms sales to non-governmental forces. Urges member states to prevent members of the junta from entering or transiting their countries.

17 April 1998 - UN Security Council Resolution 1162 - Authorises the deployment of up to ten UN military liaison and security advisory personnel, and undertaking to consider the deployment of military personnel.

16 March 1998 - UN Security Council Resolution 1156 welcomes the restoration of the elected government and terminates the fuel embargo on Sierra Leone.

10 March 1998 - President Kabbah returns from exile after the ousting of the AFRC by ECOMOG.

2 February 1998
(RUF) RUF Lieutenant Eldred Collins responds to news releases by Ambassador Leigh "to set certain records straight."

14 January 1998
(AFRC) An overview of the Conakry Peace Plan presented by AFRC Chairman Lt.-Col. Johnny Paul Koroma to the United Nations Technical Survey Team to Sierra Leone.

9 January 1998
(AFRC) Press briefing on the Conakry Peace Plan by AFRC Secretary-General Col. A.K. Sesay.

4 November 1997
(AFRC) Radio and television broadcast by AFRC Chairman Major Johnny Paul Koroma on the ECOWAS Six-Month Peace Plan for Sierra Leone.

November 1997
(AFRC) The document, an agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Government of Iran, is dated 2 October 1996. It was circulated by the AFRC in November 1997.

23 October 1997 - AFRC and ECOWAS sign the ECOWAS Six-Month Peace Plan (the Conakry Accord).

8 October 1997 - UN Security Council Resolution 1132 imposing an embargo on the AFRC under Chapter VIII.

16 September 1997
(AFRC) Letter from AFRC Chairman Major Johnny Paul Koroma to the President of the United Nations Security Council.

5 September 1997
(AFRC) Letter from AFRC Chairman Major Johnny Paul Koroma to the ECOWAS Committee of Five accusing the Nigerians of genocide and appealing to ECOWAS to send an independent team of investigators to Sierra Leone.

5 September 1997
(AFRC) Letter from AFRC Chairman Major Johnny Paul Koroma to U.S. President Bill Clinton appealing to him to "listen to our side of the story."

4 September 1997
(AFRC) Prayer offered by AFRC Chairman Major Johnny Paul Koroma at the funeral of 21 persons killed during shelling of the port.

August 1997 (date uncertain)
(AFRC) Letter from AFRC Chairman Major Johnny Paul Koroma to ECOWAS Chairman Sani Abacha appealing for a resumption in negotiations following the collapsed Abidjan talks.

31 July 1997
(AFRC) Fax from AFRC Chairman Major Johnny Paul Koroma to Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Alimamy Pallo Bangura on the collapse of the Abidjan talks.

30 July 1997
(AFRC) Address to the nation by AFRC Chairman Major Johnny Paul Koroma in which he lays out a four-year timetable for a return to civilian rule. The speech caused the immediate collapse of ECOWAS-sponsored negotiations in Abidjan.

17 July 1997
(AFRC) Position Paper on Negotiation.

17 July 1997
(AFRC) Annex to the AFRC Position Paper on Negotiations.

18 June 1997
(RUF) The RUF apologises for atrocities committed against Sierra Leoneans during the civil war. Delivered over SLBS.

13 June 1997
(AFRC) Address to Elders by AFRC Chairman Major Johnny Paul Koroma (transcription).

1 June 1997
(AFRC) AFRC Chairman Major Johnny Paul Koroma gives his reasons to justify the 25 May 1997 military coup.

28 May 1997
(AFRC) AFRC Chairman Major Johnny Paul Koroma condemns the Kamajor militia and the SLPP government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

25 May 1997 - Soldiers overthrow the elected government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and establish Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC).

30 November 1996 - Government of Sierra Leone and RUF sign Abidjan Peace Agreement.

15 March 1996 - President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah elected president following multi-party elections.

16 January 1996 - Strasser replaced by Brig. Julius Maada Bio in "palace coup".

1995 - "Footpaths to Democracy"
(RUF) The RUF's manifesto. (The document was written for, but not by, the RUF.)

29 April 1992 - Soldiers overthrow the government of Joseph Saidu Momoh and establish National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) headed by Capt. Valentine Strasser.

23 March 1991 - The RUF crosses into Sierra Leone to attack the Kailahun District town of Bomaru, launching a decade of civil war.