Commonwealth Secretary-General Welcomes Signing of the Sierra Leone Peace Agreement

Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku welcomed the signing of a Peace Agreement on 30 November between the Government of Sierra Leone and the leader of the Revolutionary United Front and urged both sides to work for reconciliation and stability in the interest of the people of Sierra Leone.

In a statement issued in London today, Chief Anyaoku said:

"I congratulate President Tejan Kabbah and Corporal Foday Sankoh on the signing of the Peace Agreement in Abidjan on 30 November 1996. This brings to an end many years of civil strife, during which numerous lives were lost and many homes and properties destroyed. I welcome the conclusion of the Peace Agreement and urge both parties to it to implement its provisions faithfully.
"The Commonwealth has shown its commitment to assisting Sierra Leone to restore civilian democratic governance and to end internal conflict by supporting the transition programme and the search for a negotiated peace settlement. I wish both the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone success in the implementation of the Agreement, and reaffirm the support of the Commonwealth in every possible way to its successful implementation."

Issued by the Information and Public Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat,
Marlborough House,
Pall Mall,
London SW1Y 5HX,
United Kingdom.
Tel: 0207-839 3411;
Fax: 0207-839 9081;
Telex: 27678

96/65 3 December 1996