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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Statement on Sierra Leone by the Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku

31 July 1997

Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku today described as "totally unacceptable" the announcement by the leader of the military coup in Sierra Leone, Major Johnny Paul Koroma, that his military junta will not return Sierra Leone to democratic rule for four years.

Chief Anyaoku said: "Any delay in the immediate transfer of power from the junta and back to civilian rule - let alone a postponement until 2001 - would represent a major setback not only for Sierra Leone and the West Africa region but for the continent of Africa as a whole. This is particularly so at this time when the whole of the international community has come to accept the illegitimacy of military takeovers of government. This move is totally unacceptable."

He repeated his earlier condemnation of the 25 May 1997 coup and called for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of the country's democratically elected government.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General praised the efforts by the countries of the region to restore Sierra Leone's democratic government. He added: "It is now for the region to take every necessary step to see legitimacy, constitutionality and democracy reinstated in Sierra Leone. In that task, I trust that they will continue to have the full support of the international community." 

 

97/34          31 July 1997

 

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