Sierra Leone: UN officials witness disarmament of combatants in northern district

The disarmament process in northern Sierra Leone's Koinadugu District has started with the disarmament of 45 pro-government combatants and the handover of 39 ex-child soldiers, according to UNAMSIL, the United Nations Mission in the country.

The disarmament began in Makakura, about nine kilometres from the town of Kabala, when pro-government troops from the Civil Defence Forces (CDF) began disarming yesterday. The children were transferred to CARITAS-Makeni, a child protection agency.

In a symbolic ceremony witnessed by senior UNAMSIL officials and representatives from the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration, an AK-47 rifle was disabled and destroyed. The combatants also brought in small arms such as self-loading rifles and a rocket launcher.

All the weapons handed over were destroyed at the reception centre and the combatants taken to a demobilization camp in Kabala, UNAMSIL said.

The disarmament process in the districts of Moyamba and Koinadugu will continue until 31 August.