Agreement of Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities between the Sierra Leone Government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) ('Abuja Ceasefire Agreement')

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Country/entity: Sierra Leone
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Agreement of Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities between the Sierra Leone Government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) ('Abuja Ceasefire Agreement')
Date: 10 Nov 2000
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: Solomon Ekuma Berewa, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General for the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone; For the RUF: Jonathan Jim Kposowa, Chief of Administration for the Revolutionary United Front
Third parties: Witnesses: Joseph Laryea, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Representing the Republic of Ghana; Rouguiatou Diállo, Acting Chargé d'Affairs of the Embassy of Guinea in Nigeria Representing the Republic of Guinea; Daniel Chea, Sr. Minister of National Defence Representing the Republic of Liberia; Modibo Sidibé, Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Malians Abroad Representing the Republic of Mali; Lamido Sule, Minister of Foreign Affairs Representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Api Assoumatine, Ambassador of the Togolese Republic in Nigeria Representing the Togolese Republic; Lansana Kouyate, ECOWAS Executive Secretary; Oluyemi Adjeniji, Secretary-General's Special Representative in Sierra Leone
Description: Ceasefire agreement in attempt to have a 'fresh application' of the Lome Accord.

Agreement document: SL_001110_Abuja 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: Groups→Refugees/displaced persons→Substantive
Page 3, 5. The parties undertake, with a view to restoring the authority of the Government throughout the entire territory of Sierra Leone, to ensure free movement of persons and goods, unimpeded movement of humanitarian agencies, and of refugees and displaced persons.
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 3, 5. The parties undertake, with a view to restoring the authority of the Government throughout the entire territory of Sierra Leone, to ensure free movement of persons and goods, unimpeded movement of humanitarian agencies, and of refugees and displaced persons.
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 3, 4. Both parties agree that UNAMSIL shall have full liberty to deploy its troops and other personnel throughout Sierra Leone including the diamond producing areas in the discharge of its responsibilities, when UNAMSIL is satisfied that the ceasefire is observed by all the parties.

Page 3, 5. The parties undertake, with a view to restoring the authority of the Government throughout the entire territory of Sierra Leone, to ensure free movement of persons and goods, unimpeded movement of humanitarian agencies, and of refugees and displaced persons.

Page 4, 8. The following shall constitute a violation of this agreement:
...(v) Obstructing the activities of the United Nation Mission in Sierra Leone.
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 commenced at midnight on 10/11/2000 and is presumed to be permanent. The whole agreement provides for a ceasefire and its modalities.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→DDR programmes
Page 3, 7: The two parties agree to recommence immediately, for all combatants, the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 3, 6. The RUF commits itself to the immediate return of all weapons, ammunitions and other equipment seized by RUF.
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: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: Witness: Oluyemi Adjeniji, Secretary-General's Special Representative in Sierra Leone
Other international signatory: Witnesses: Joseph Laryea, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Representing the Republic of Ghana; Rouguiatou Diállo, Acting Chargé d'Affairs of the Embassy of Guinea in Nigeria Representing the Republic of Guinea; Daniel Chea, Sr. Minister of National Defence Representing the Republic of Liberia; Modibo Sidibé, Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Malians Abroad Representing the Republic of Mali; Lamido Sule, Minister of Foreign Affairs Representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Api Assoumatine, Ambassador of the Togolese Republic in Nigeria Representing the Togolese Republic; Lansana Kouyate, ECOWAS Executive Secretary
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 3, 3.(i)They agree that the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone shall supervise and monitor the ceasefire. The United Nations Mission In Sierra Leone shall also investigate and report on any acts of ceasefire violation.

Page 3, 4. Both parties agree that UNAMSIL shall have full liberty to deploy its troops and other personnel throughout Sierra Leone including the diamond producing areas in the discharge of its responsibilities, when UNAMSIL is satisfied that the ceasefire is observed by all the parties.
Enforcement mechanism: Page 3, 3.(i)They agree that the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone shall supervise and monitor the ceasefire. The United Nations Mission In Sierra Leone shall also investigate and report on any acts of ceasefire violation.
(ii) These reports shall be presented by UNAMSIL to a Committee comprising ECOWAS Committee of Six on Sierra Leone, the ECOWAS Secretariat, the United Nations, the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF.

Page 4, 9. The ultimate objective of the present Agreement is to ensure a ceasefire and to bring an end to the hostilities. Consequently, the parties agree to undertake with the participation of the ECOWAS Committee of six of the Mediation and Security Council on Sierra Leone and the United Nations, a review of the implementation of this Agreement, thirty (30) days after its entry into force, to evaluate the timeliness of commencing fresh application of the Lome Peace Agreement.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker: http://peacemaker.un.org. Link to agreement: http://peacemaker.un.org/sierraleone-cessationhostilitiesruf2000

Agreement of Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities between the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone Represented by Solomon Ekuma Berewa and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) Represented by Jonathan Jim Kposowa

The Government of Sierra Leone and RUF,

Reaffirming their determinationto establish sustainable peace, stability and security in Sierra Leone;

Also reaffirming their commitment to the Lome Peace Agreement of 7 July 1999 as the framework for the restoration of genuine and lasting peace to the country;

Desirous of adopting effective confidence-building measures so as to create a conducive environment for fresh application of the Lome Peace Agreement which constitutes the most appropriate framework for the resolution of the conflict in Sierra Leone;

Welcoming the emergemce of a new leadership within the RUF and noting its stated commitment to work towards the restoration of peace to Sierra Leone

Hereby agree as follows:

1. To delare and observe a cease-fire and to halt hostilities with effect for the 10th Day of November, 2000 starting at 12.00 midnight.

2. The parties agree to refrain from committing any act or carrying out any activity that might constitute or facilitate a violation of the ceasefire.

3. ( i) They agree that the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone shall supervise and monitor the cease-fire.

The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone shall also investigate and report on any acts of cease-fire violation.

(ii) These reports shall be presented by UNAMISIL to a Committee comprising ECOWAS Committee of Six on Sierra Leone, the ECOWAS Secretariat, the United Nations, the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF.

4. Both parties agree that UNAMISIL shall have full liberty to deploy its troops and other personnel throughout Sierra Leone includding the diamond producing areas in the discharge of its responsibilities, when UNAMISIL is satisfied that the ceasefire is observed by all the parties.

5. The parties undertake, with a view to restoring the authority of the Government throughout the entire territory of Sierra Leone, to ensure free movement of persons and goods, unimpeded movement of humanitarian agencies, and of refugees and displaced persons.

6. The RUF commits itself to the imediate return of all weapons, ammunitions and other equipment seized by the RUF.

7. The two parties agree to recommence immediately, for all combatents, the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintigration Programme.

8. The following shall constitue a violation of this Agreement:

(i) all illegal importation of arms, ammunitions and other weapons of war;

(ii) any attack by one of the parties against the positions of the other party before, during or after the deployment of UNAMSIL troops.

(iii) laying of mines or incendiary devices after the entry into force of this Agreement, the refusal to disclose the existence of such mines or explosives and their location, and the deliberate refusal to cooperate by turning over the maps indicating such locations;

iv) harassment or attacks, hostage taking and seizure of arms and equipment belonging to troops serving under the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, or under the authority of the Government of Sierra Leone;

v) obstructing the activities of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone.

9. The ultimate objective of the present Agreement is to ensure a cease-fire and to bring an end to the hostilities.

Consequently, the parties agree to undertake with the participation of the Ecowas Committee of six of the Mediation and Security Council on Sierra Leone and the United Nations, a review the implementation of this Agreement, thirty (30) days after its entry into force, to evaluate the timelines pf commencing fresh application of the Lome Peace Agreement.

Done at Abuja htis 10th Day of November, 2000

For the Government of Sierra Leone:

Solomon Ekuma Berewa, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General for the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone;

For the RUF:

Jonathan Jim Kposowa, Chief of Administration for the Revolutionary United Front

Witnesses:

Joseph Laryea, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Representing the Republic of Ghana;

Rouguiatou Diállo, Acting Chargé d'Affairs of the Embassy of Guinea in Nigeria Representing the Republic of Guinea;

Daniel Chea, Sr.

Minister of National Defence Representing the Republic of Liberia;

Modibo Sidibé, Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Malians Abroad Representing the Republic of Mali;

Lamido Sule, Minister of Foreign Affairs Representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

Api Assoumatine, Ambassador of the Togolese Republic in Nigeria Representing the Togolese Republic;

Lansana Kouyate, ECOWAS Executive Secretary;

Oluyemi Adjeniji, Secretary-General's Special Representative in Sierra Leone