President Ahmed Tejan KABBAH and Rev. 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 Lome, which began with the RUF
internal consultations to be followed by dialogue between the Government and the RUF;
—Have jointly decided to:
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;
Maintain their present and respective positions in Sierra Leone as of the 24th of May 1999; and refrain from any hostile or aggressive act which
could undermine the peace process;
Commit to start negotiations in good faith, involving all relevant parties in the discussions, not later than May 25 in Lome;
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;
Immediate release of all prisoners of war and non-combatants;
Request the United Nations, subject to the Security Council’s authorisation, 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 the 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 Republic of Togo
For the United Nations
Francis G. OKELO
Special Representative of the Secretary General
For the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)
Adwoa COLEMAN
Representative of the Organization of African Unity
US Presidential Special Envoy for the Promotion of Democracy in Africa
In accordance with Article II of the present Agreement, both parties agree that the following constitute cease-fire violations and
a breach of the Cease-fire Agreement:
The use of weapons of any kind in any circumstance including: —
Automatic and semi-automatic rifles, pistols, machine guns and any other small arms weapon systems.
Heavy machine guns and any other heavy weapon systems.
Grenades and rocket-propelled grenade weapon systems.
Artillery, rockets, mortars and any other indirect fire weapon systems.
All types of mine, explosive devices and improvised booby traps.
Air Defence weapon systems of any nature.
Any other weapon not included in the above paragraphs.
Troop movements of any nature outside of the areas recognized as being under the control of respective fighting forces
without prior notification to the Cease-fire Monitoring Committee of any movements at least 48 hours in advance.
The movement of arms and ammunition. To be considered in the context of Security Council Resolution 1171 (1998).
Troop movements of any nature;
The construction and/or the improvement of defensive works and positions within respective areas of control, but outside
a geographical boundary of 500m from existing similar positions.
Reconnaissance of any nature outside of respective areas of control.
Any other offensive or aggressive action.
Any training or other military activities not provided for in Articles XIII to XIX of the present Agreement, constitute a cease-fire
violation.
In the event of a hostile external force threatening the territorial integrity or sovereignty of Sierra Leone, military action may
be undertaken by the Sierra Leone Government.
STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE AND THE
REVOLUTIONARY UNITED FRONT OF SIERRA LEONE ON THE RELEASE
OF PRISONERS OF WAR AND NON-COMBATANTS
The Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF/SL) have agreed to implement as soon as
possible the provision of the Cease-fire Agreement which was signed on 18 May 1999 in Lome, relating to the immediate release of prisoners
of war and non-combatants.
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of the implementation of this provision in the interest of the furtherance of the talks.
They therefore decided that an appropriate Committee is established to handle the release of all prisoners of war and non-combatants.
Both the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone decided that such a Committee be
established by the UN and chaired by the UN Chief Military Observer in Sierra Leone and comprising representatives of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UNICEF and other relevant UN Agencies and NGOs.
This Committee should begin its work immediately by contacting both parties to the conflict with a view to effecting the
immediate release of these prisoners of war and non-combatants.
STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE AND THE
REVOLUTIONARY UNITED FRONT OF SIERRA LEONE ON THE DELIVERY OF
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE IN SIERRA LEONE
The parties to the conflict in Sierra Leone meeting in Lomé, Togo on 3rd June 1999 in the context of the Dialogue between the
Government of Sierra Leone (GSL) and the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone (RUF/SL):
Reaffirm their respect for international convention, principles and norms, which govern the right of people to receive
humanitarian assistance and the effective delivery of such assistance.
Reiterate their commitment to the implementation of the Cease-fire Agreement signed by the two parties on 18th May 1999 in Lome.
Aware of the fact that the protracted civil strife in Sierra Leone has created a situation whereby the vast majority of Sierra
Leoneans in need of humanitarian assistance cannot be reached.
Hereby agree as follows:
That all duly registered humanitarian agencies shall be guaranteed safe and unhindered access to all areas under the control of the
respective parties in order that humanitarian assistance can be delivered safely and effectively, in accordance with international
conventions, principles and norms govern humanitarian operations.
In this respect the two parties shall:
guarantee safe access and facilitate the fielding of independent assessment missions by duly registered humanitarian agencies.
identify, in collaboration with the UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Sierra Leone and UNOMSIL, mutually agreed routes (road, air and waterways)
by which humanitarian goods and personnel shall be transported to the beneficiaries to provide needed assistance.
allow duly registered humanitarian agencies to deliver assistance according to needs established through independent assessments.
guarantee the security of all properties and of and goods transported, stocked or distributed by the duly registered humanitarian agencies,
as well as the security of their project areas and beneficiaries.
The two parties undertake to establish with immediate effect, and not later than seven days, an Implementation Committee formed
by appropriately designated and mandated representatives from the Government of Sierra Leone, the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone,
the Civil Society, the NGO community, and the UNOMSIL; and chaired by the United Nations Humanitarian Co-ordinator, in co-ordination with the
Special Representative of the Secretary General in Sierra Leone.
The Implementation Committee will be mandated to:
Ascertain and assess the security of proposed routes to be used by the humanitarian agencies, and disseminate information on routes to
interested humanitarian agencies.
Receive and review complaints which may arise in the implementation of this arrangement, in order to re-establish full compliance.
The parties agree to set up at various levels in their areas of control, the appropriate and effective administrative and security bodies
which will monitor and facilitate the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance in all approved points of delivery, and ensure the security
of the personnel, goods and project areas of the humanitarian agencies as well as the safety of the beneficiaries.
DRAFT SCHEDULE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT
I. ACTIVITIES WITH SPECIFIC TIMING:
TIMING
ACTIVITIES
ACTION REQUIRED
FOLLOW-UP ACTION
DAY 1
Signing of the Peace Agreement
Amnesty
Transformation and new mandate of ECOMOG
The Government to grant absolute and free pardon to the RUF leader Foday Sankoh through
appropriate legal steps
Request to ECOWAS by the parties for revision of the mandate of ECOMOG in Sierra Leone
Request to the UN Security Council to amend the mandate of UNOMSIL to enable it to undertake the various provisions outlined in the present Agreement;
Request to the international community to provide substantial financial and logistical assistance to facilitate implementation of the Peace Agreement.
Request to ECOWAS by the parties for contributions of additional troops.
Transformation of the RUF into a political party
RUF/SL to commence to organize itself to function as a political party
Encampment, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR)
Request for international assistance in adapting and extending the existing DDR programme
Withdrawal of mercenaries
Supervision by Joint Monitoring Commission
Notification to Joint Monitoring Commission
Communication by the parties of positions and description of all known warlike devices/materials
Notification to Military Commands
Communication by the parties of written orders requiring compliance
DAY 15
Enabling members of the RUF/SL to hold public office, and to join a broad-based Government of National
Unity through Cabinet appointments
Removal by the Government of all legal impediments
Commission for the Consolidation of Peace (CCP)
Creation of the Commission to implement a post-conflict reconciliation and welfare programme
Mandate of the Commission to terminate at the end of next general elections Jan.-Feb. 2001
Commission for the Management of Strategic Resources, National Reconstruction and Development (CMRRD)
Ban on all exploitation, sale, export, or any transaction of gold and diamonds except those sanctioned by the CMRDD
DAY 22
Enabling members of the RUF/SL to hold public office
Discussion and agreement between both parties on the appointment of RUF/SL members to positions of parastatal,
diplomacy and any other public sector
For a period of fourteen days
DAY 31
Transformation of the RUF into a political party
Commission for the management of Strategic Resources, National Reconstruction and Development (CMRRD)
Transformation, new mandate, and phased withdrawal of ECOMOG
Necessary legal steps by the Government for the registration of the RUF as a political party
Preparation and submission by Government to the Parliament of relevant bills for enabling legislation commitments made under the peace
agreement
Deployment of troops from at least two additional countries
DAY 60
Completion of encampment, disarmament and demobilization
Restriction of SLA soldiers to the barracks and storage of their arms and ammunition
under constant surveillance by the Neutral Peace-Keeping Force during the disarmament process
Monitoring of disarmament and demobilization by UNOMSIL
DAY 90
Human Rights Commission
Creation of an autonomous quasi judicial national Human Rights Commission
Request for technical and material assistance from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the African Commission on Human Rights
and Peoples Rights and other relevant organizations
Creation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Elections
Establishment of a new independent National Electoral Commission (NEC) in consultation
with all political parties including the RUF/SL
Request for financial and logistical support for the operations of the NEC
Request for assistance from the international community in monitoring the next presidential and parliamentary elections in
Sierra Leone
DAY 456
Human Rights Violations
Submission by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of its report and recommendation to the Government
for immediate implementation
II. ACTIVITIES WITHOUT SPECIFIC TIMING: (SHORT/MEDIUM/LONG TERM):
SERIAL NO.
ACTIVITIES
ACTION REQUIRED
FOLLOW-UP ACTION
1.
Ceasefire monitoring
(Ceasefire Agreement signed on 18 May 1999)
Establishment of a Ceasefire Monitoring Committee at provincial and district levels
Request for international assistance in providing funds and other logistics for the operations of the JMC
JMC already established and operational
2.
Review of the present Constitution
Establishment of a Constitutional Review Committee
3.
Mediation by the Council of Elders and Religious Leaders
Appointment of members of the Council by the Interreligious Council, the Government, the RUF and ECOWAS
4.
Timetable for the phased withdrawal of ECOMOG
Formulation of the timetable in connection with the phased creation and deployment of the
restructured Armed Forces
5.
Security guarantees for peace monitors
Communication, in writing, of security guarantees to UNMILOBs
6.
Restructuring and training of the SLA
Creation by the Government of truly national armed forces reflecting the geo-political
structure of Sierra Leone within the established
Posted by USIP Library on: August 19, 1999
Source Name: HTML version of the agreement from Sierra Leone Web; verified by Embassy of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C. Printed text of the agreement and additional documents from the U.S. Department of State, faxed to D.C. from the U.S. Embassy in Lomé, Togo.
Source URL: http://www.sierra-leone.org/lomeaccord.html
Date downloaded/faxed: Downloaded on August 16, 1999; print copy faxed on July 7, 1999.
