Agreement on Ceasefire in Sierra Leone

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Country/entity: Sierra Leone
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Agreement on Ceasefire in Sierra Leone
Date: 18 May 1999
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Sierra Leone Civil War (1991 – 2002)
In March 1991, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) launched an armed assault in an attempt to oust the corrupt regime of Joseph Momoh. Grievances were primarily focused on unequal distribution of economic goods. RUF took over large areas by 1992, the poor government response instigating a coup d’état in 1992. After 1993 the RUF gained and lost territory in waves. In 1996, following an intervention on behalf of the government by the private military company, Executive Outcomes, the Abidjan Agreement was signed. Another coup in 1997, however, sparked new fighting and the RUF alongside the new government captured Freetown. Despite declarations that the war had ended, the international community intervened. The Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) recaptured Freetown on behalf of the government. The Lome Peace Accord was signed in 1999, issuing a power-sharing deal, but by 2000 RUF was once again advancing towards Freetown. As the UN mission floundered, the UK government stepped in and by January 2002, the civil war was declared to be over.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Sierra Leone peace process
Parties: For the Government of Sierra Leone: Alhadji Dr. Ahmad Tejan KABBAH, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone; For the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone: Corporal Foday Saybana SANKOH, Leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF)
Third parties: Witnesses: For the Government of Togo and Chairman of ECOWAS: Gnassingbe EYADEMA, President of the Togolese Republic; For the United Nations: Francis G. OKELO,Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sierra Leone; For the Organization of African Unity (OAU): Adwoa COLEMAN, Representative of the Organization of African Unity; Reverend Jesse JACKSON, United States Presidential Special Envoy for the Promotion of Democracy in Africa.
Description: A short agreement providing for a ceasefire between the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF in May 1999.

Agreement document: SL_990518_Ceasefire Agreement.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: Page 2, Para 4. Guarantee safe and unhindered access by humanitarian organizations to all
people in need; establish safe corridors for the provision of food and medical supplies to ECOMOG soldiers behind RUF lines, and to RUF combatants behind ECOMOG lines;
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: Page 2, 4. Guarantee safe and unhindered access by humanitarian organizations to all
people in need; establish safe corridors for the provision of food and medical supplies to ECOMOG soldiers behind RUF lines, and to RUF combatants behind ECOMOG lines;
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Ceasefire is presumed to be permanent and commenced on 25 May 1999. The whole agreement provides for a ceasefire and its modalities.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: Page 2, 5. Immediate release of all prisoners of war and non-combatants;
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: Witnessed for the United Nations by Francis G. OKELO Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sierra Leone.
Other international signatory: Witnesses: For the Government of Togo and Chairman of ECOWAS: Gnassingbe EYADEMA, President of the Togolese Republic; For the Organization of African Unity (OAU): Adwoa COLEMAN, Representative of the Organization of African Unity; Reverend Jesse JACKSON, United States Presidential Special Envoy for the Promotion of Democracy in Africa.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: Page 2, 6. Request the United Nations, subject to the Security Council’s authorization, to deploy military observers as soon as possible to observe compliance by the Government forces (ECOMOG and Civil Defence Forces) and the RUF, including former AFRC forces, with this ceasefire agreement.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker: http://peacemaker.un.org/. Link to agreement: http://peacemaker.un.org/sites/peacemaker.un.org/files/SL_990518_CeasefireAgreementSierraLeone.pdf

Agreement on ceasefire in Sierra Leone

President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah and Reverend Jesse Jackson met on 18 May 1999 with Corporal Foday Saybana Sankoh, under the auspices of

President Gnassingbe Eyadema.

At that meeting, the question of the peace process for Sierra Leone was discussed.

The Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone (RUF/SL),

- Desirous to promote the ongoing dialogue process with a view to establishing durable peace and stability in Sierra Leone;

and

- Wishing to create an appropriate atmosphere conducive to the holding of peace talks in Lomé, which began with the RUF internal consultations to be followed by dialogue between the Government and RUF;

Have jointly decided to:

1. Agree to ceasefire as from 24 May 1999, the day that President Eyadema invited Foreign Ministers of ECOWAS to discuss problems pertaining to Sierra Leone.

It was further agreed that the dialogue between the Government of Sierra Leone and RUF would commence on 25 May 1999;

2. Maintain their present and respective positions in Sierra Leone as of 24 May 1999;

and refrain from any hostile or aggressive act which could

undermine the peace process;

3. Commit to start negotiations in good faith, involving all relevant parties in the discussions, not later than 25 May in Lomé;

4. Guarantee safe and unhindered access by humanitarian organizations to all people in need;

establish safe corridors for the provision of food and medical supplies to ECOMOG soldiers behind RUF lines, and to RUF combatants behind ECOMOG lines;

5. Immediate release of all prisoners of war and non-combatants;

6. Request the United Nations, subject to the Security Council’s authorization, to deploy military observers as soon as possible to observe

compliance by the Government forces (ECOMOG and Civil Defence Forces) and the RUF, including former AFRC forces, with this ceasefire agreement.

This agreement is without prejudice to any other agreement or additional protocols which may be discussed during the dialogue between the Government and RUF.

Signed in Lomé (Togo), 18 May 1999, in six (6) originals in English and French.

For the Government of Sierra Leone

Alhadji Dr. Ahmad Tejan KABBAH President of the Republic of Sierra Leone

For the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone

Corporal Foday Saybana SANKOH Leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF)

Witnessed by:

For the Government of Togo and Current Chairman of ECOWAS

Gnassingbe EYADEMA President of the Togolese Republic

For the United Nations

Francis G. OKELO Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sierra Leone

For the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Adwoa COLEMAN Representative of the Organization of African Unity

United States Presidential Special Envoy for the Promotion of Democracy in Africa Reverend Jesse JACKSON