Communiqué issued at Conakry on 23 October 1997 at the conclusion of the meeting between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Committee of Five on Sierra Leone of the Economic Community of West African States and the delegation representing Major Johnny Paul Koromah

Export agreement:

Export agreement coding (PDF)

Country/entity: Sierra Leone
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Communiqué issued at Conakry on 23 October 1997 at the conclusion of the meeting between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Committee of Five on Sierra Leone of the Economic Community of West African States and the delegation representing Major Johnny Paul Koromah
Date: 23 Oct 1997
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
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: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Sierra Leone peace process
Parties: For the ECOWAS Committee of Five on Sierra Leone:
(Signed) Tom IKIMI, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria;
(Signed) Lamine KAMARA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Guinea

For the delegation representing Major Johnny Paul Koromah Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) regime in Sierra Leone:
(Signed) Abdul Karim SESAY, Secretary-General, AFRC;
(Signed) Alimamy Pallo BANGURA, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Third parties: Witnesses
For the United Nations:
(Signed) Ibrahima FALL, Assistant Secretary-General

For the Organization of African Unity:
(Signed) Adwoa COLEMAN, OAU Representative
Description: An agreement in which the parties adopt the ECOWAS six-month plan for Sierra Leone, and agree to continue negotiations towards effective and prompt implementation of the peace plan. Areas covered in the agreement include a commitment to continue negotiations, calls for faction leaders to return to Sierra Leone and participate in the peace process, and appeals for international funds.

Agreement document: SL_971023_CommuniqueConakryPeacePlan.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→Rhetorical
Page 1, 7: The ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone provides for:...(f). Return of refugees and displaced persons;

Page 2, 9: The meeting renewed its appeal to the international community to provide appropriate humanitarian assistance to the refugees and displaced persons and to facilitate their return.

Page 2, 10: The meeting reiterated its appeal to the international community to provide adequate assistance to the neighbouring countries of Sierra Leone, which have recorded an increased influx of refugees on their territory.
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): Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→General references
Page 1, 7: The ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone provides for:
(a) The reinstatement of the legitimate Government of President Tejan Kabbah within a period of six months;
...(h) Modalities for broadening the power base in Sierra Leone.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: Power sharing→Political power sharing→General
State level
Page 1, 7: The ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone provides for:
(a) The reinstatement of the legitimate Government of President Tejan Kabbah within a period of six months...
...(h) Modalities for broadening the power base in Sierra Leone.
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: No specific mention.
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: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1, 7: The ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone provides for:
...(e) Provision of humanitarian assistance;
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: Page 2, 9: The meeting renewed its appeal to the international community to provide
appropriate humanitarian assistance to the refugees and displaced persons and to
facilitate their return.

Page 2, 10: The meeting reiterated its appeal to the international community to provide adequate assistance to the neighbouring countries of Sierra Leone, which have recorded an increased influx of refugees on their territory.

Page 2, 11: The meeting expressed its appreciation to the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity for their cooperation with ECOWAS and appealed to them for material, logistic and financial support to ECOMOG to enable it to carry out the mandate given by the Authority of Heads of State and Government and the Security Council.
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
The agreement provides for an immediate permanent ceasefire (commencing 23/10/1997)

Page 1, 7: The ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone provides for:
...(b) The immediate cessation of hostilities;
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: Page 1, 7: The ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone provides for:

...(d) Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants;
DDR: Security sector→DDR→DDR programmes
Page 1, 7: The ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone provides for:
...(d) Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants;
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, 6: It is recognized that Corporal Fodey Sankoh, as a leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), could continue to play an active role and participate in the peace process. In the spirit of the Abidjan Accord and in the context of this agreement, Corporal Sankoh is expected to return to his country to make his contribution to the peace process.
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: Transitional justice→Amnesty/pardon→Amnesty/pardon proper
Page 1, 7: The ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone provides for:
...(g) Immunities and guarantees to the leaders of the coup d'état of 25 May 1997;
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: For the United Nations:
(Signed) Ibrahima FALL, Assistant Secretary-General
Other international signatory: For the Organization of African Unity:
(Signed) Adwoa COLEMAN, OAU Representative
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: Page 1, 3: The meeting reviewed the situation in Sierra Leone since the breakdown of negotiations between the Committee of Five and the representatives of the junta on 30 July 1997. It recalled the ECOWAS decisions concerning the monitoring of
the ceasefire, the imposition of sanctions and the embargo, as well as the restoration of peace to Sierra Leone by the ECOWAS Military Observer Group (ECOMOG). It also recalled Security Council resolution 1132 (1997) of 8 October 1997 placing an embargo on Sierra Leone.

Page 1, 5: To that end, the Committee of Five and the representatives of Major Johnny Paul Koromah adopted an ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone and a timetable for its implementation over a six-month period with effect from 23 October 1997.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
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_971023_ConakryPeacePlan.pdf

Communiqué issued at Conakry on 23 October 1997 at the conclusion of the meeting between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Committee of Five on Sierra Leone of the Economic Community of West African States and the delegation representing Major Johnny Paul Koromah

1. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Ministerial Committee of Five on Sierra Leone held a meeting at Conakry on 22 and 23 October 1997.

2. In continuation of the negotiations initiated at Abidjan on 17 and 18 and 29 and 30 July 1997, the Committee held discussions with an enlarged delegation representing Major Johnny Paul Koromah.

3. The meeting reviewed the situation in Sierra Leone since the breakdown of negotiations between the Committee of Five and the representatives of the junta on 30 July 1997.

It recalled the ECOWAS decisions concerning the monitoring of the ceasefire, the imposition of sanctions and the embargo, as well as the restoration of peace to Sierra Leone by the ECOWAS Military Observer Group (ECOMOG).

It also recalled Security Council resolution 1132 (1997) of 8 October 1997 placing an embargo on Sierra Leone.

4. The Committee of Five and the junta's delegation agreed to accelerate efforts towards the peaceful resolution of the Sierra Leonian crisis.

5. To that end, the Committee of Five and the representatives of Major Johnny Paul Koromah adopted an ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone and a timetable for its implementation over a six-month period with effect from 23 October 1997.

6. It is recognized that Corporal Fodey Sankoh, as a leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), could continue to play an active role and

participate in the peace process.

In the spirit of the Abidjan Accord and in the context of this agreement, Corporal Sankoh is expected to return to his country to make his contribution to the peace process.

7. The ECOWAS peace plan for Sierra Leone provides for:

(a) The reinstatement of the legitimate Government of President Tejan Kabbah within a period of six months;

(b) The immediate cessation of hostilities;

(d) Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants;

(e) Provision of humanitarian assistance;

(f) Return of refugees and displaced persons;

(g) Immunities and guarantees to the leaders of the coup d'état of 25 May 1997;

(h) Modalities for broadening the power base in Sierra Leone.

8. The Committee of Five and the representatives of Major Johnny Paul Koromah agreed to continue negotiations towards effective and prompt implementation of the peace plan.

9. The meeting renewed its appeal to the international community to provide appropriate humanitarian assistance to the refugees and displaced persons and to facilitate their return.

10. The meeting reiterated its appeal to the international community to provide adequate assistance to the neighbouring countries of Sierra Leone, which have recorded an increased influx of refugees on their territory.

11. The meeting expressed its appreciation to the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity for their cooperation with ECOWAS and appealed to them for material, logistic and financial support to ECOMOG to enable it to carry out the mandate given by the Authority of Heads of State and Government and the Security Council.

12. The Committee expressed its deep gratitude to General Lansana Conte, President of the Republic of Guinea, Head of State, and to the Government and people of Guinea for the excellent facilities put at their disposal and for the hospitality accorded to all the delegations.