PRESS STATEMENT ON THE VISIT TO SIERRA LEONE OF THEIR EXCELLENCIES ALPHA OUMAR KONARE, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALI AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS) AND OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA MONDAY, 3RD SEPTEMBER 2001
1. On Monday, 3rd September 2001, His Excellency President Alpha Oumar Konare, President of the Republic of Mali and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and President Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, paid a one-day working visit to the Republic of Sierra Leone.
2. President Konare and President Obasanjo were received at the Lungi International Airport by their brother and colleague, Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, Paramount Chiefs and a cross-section of Sierra Leonean, Nigerian and Malian Communities.
3. After the welcoming ceremonies, Presidents Oumar Konare, Olusegun Obasanjo and Tejan Kabbah, flew to Koidu Town, Headquarters of the Kono District in the Eastern Province, which is also the center of diamond activities in Sierra Leone, to assess progress in the disarmament process in that part of the country.
4. On arrival in the Kono District, the two visiting Presidents were received by the Resident Minister, Eastern Province, traditional rulers, UNAMSIL personnel and a tumultuous crowd of Kono inhabitants amid great jubilation and traditional dancing.
5. The three Presidents also discussed the security situation in the Mano River Union and expressed their satisfaction over the various initiatives that have been undertaken by the governments of the Mano River Union to promote reconciliation and restore stability to the region. They also commended the role of the Mano River Union Women’s Network for peace for promoting activities in support of the restoration of peace and stability to the Mano River Union Sub-Region.
6. In this regard, Presidents Konare and Obasanjo expressed the hope that the recent meetings of Foreign Ministers of the Union in Monrovia and the joint security committee meeting in Freetown would provide the necessary impetus for reconciliation and confidence-building among the states.
7. The two Presidents further endorsed the proposed meeting of Mano River Union Foreign Ministers in Conakry on September 10, 2001 and that of the Heads of State of the Mano River Union countries in order to restore trust in the Union and to reiterate their political will for improving the security situation in the Mano River Union Sub-Region.
8. Now that the progress was at hand, the three heads of state enjoined all Sierra Leoneans to be law abiding and refrain from taking any actions that could reverse the progress that has been made so far in the restoration of peace and stability to the country.
9. With regard to progress in the peace process, the three Presidents expressed their sincere gratitude to the international community, particularly the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the United Nations, for giving constant support to the disarmament programme in Sierra Leone, as well as for their tireless efforts to restore peace and stability in the Mano River Union Sub-Region and in all the other conflict areas on the African continent.
10. The three Heads of State further commended the role played by UNAMSIL, particularly under the Leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji in accelerating the disarmament process not only in the Kono District, but also in the rest of the country.
11. In order to achieve and consolidate stability within the Mano River Union States, in particular and ECOWAS generally, the three Heads of States endorsed the extension of the moratorium on the importation and use of small arms within the ECOWAS sub-region.
12. The three Presidents finally expressed concern over the activities of dissidents and armed groups in the sub-region and called upon all member States of ECOWAS to strengthen their collaboration in dealing with the problem.
13. At the end of their visit, the two visiting Presidents expressed satisfaction over progress in the disarmament process in Sierra Leone generally and in the Kono District in particular and were optimistic about the successful conclusion to the war.
14. Presidents Konare and Obasanjo expressed their sincere gratitude to the government and people of Sierra Leone for the warm reception and hospitality accorded them during their visit.
15. President Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah thanked Presidents Konare and Obasanjo for the visit which he described as a clear manifestation of their concern for the general welfare and security of Sierra Leone, in particular and for the Mano River Union States as a whole.
DONE IN FREETOWN, THIS 3RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2001.