Commonwealth Secretariat
  1. Home
  2. What's New
  3. Who We Are
  4. What We Do
    1. Democracy
    2. Economics
    3. Education
    4. Gender
    5. Governance
    6. Health
    7. Human Rights
    8. Law
    9. Small States
    10. Sport
    11. Sustainability
    12. Youth
    13. Millennium Development Goals
    14. Funding
  5. News
    1. Events
    2. News Archive Search
    3. Picture Stories
  6. Media Room
    1. Press Archive Search
    2. Media Contacts
    3. Video
    4. Events
    5. In the Media
    6. Updates
    7. Downloads
  7. Resources
    1. Documents
    2. Image Library
    3. Libary & Archives
    4. Publications
  8. Publications
  9. Employment
  10. FAQs
    1. Acronyms
  11. Contact Us
Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth Secretary-General welcomes reported truce in Sierra Leone

8 January 1998

The Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, in expressing grave concern about the recent developments in Sierra Leone, has welcomed the reported truce agreed between the Government and the rebels. He said he hoped that it would open the way to peace.

Chief Anyaoku said that the latest attempts to overthrow the legitimate Government of Sierra Leone were deplorable and unacceptable to the Commonwealth and the wider international community.

Speaking from Nigeria, where he is currently meeting members of the Government, the Secretary-General said that the Commonwealth had resolutely stood by the democratically-elected Government of President Tejan Kabbah and would continue to do so. The Commonwealth had also consistently expressed full support for the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its military arm, ECOMOG, in restoring the authority of the legitimate government and seeking peace and security in the country.

The Secretary-General said:

I welcome the reported truce agreed between President Kabbah and the RUF leader, Foday Sankoh, and hope that this opens the way to ending the agony of the people of Sierra Leone and restoring constitutionality and peace to the country. It is particularly important that those from the outside, including the Liberian Government who are reported to be supporting the rebels, stand wholeheartedly behind the cease-fire and the search for a peaceful solution.

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

99/03 8 January 1998

Share this page
About this

ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6385/6 Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081
Email: info@commonwealth.int