Chair of Security Council sanctions committee assesses peace process in Sierra Leone

The chairman of the United Nations Security Council sanctions committee on Sierra Leone arrived today in the capital, Freetown, to assess the current peace process and political developments in the country.

During his stay, Ambassador Adolfo Zinser of Mexico is scheduled to hold discussions with President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and members of his cabinet, as well as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Sierra Leone, Oluyemi Adeniji, and other senior officials of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).

The sanctions committee was set up in 1997 to monitor and report on violations of the arms embargo imposed against Sierra Leone when a military junta overthrew the democratically elected Government of President Kabbah in May of that year.

Meanwhile, Mr. Adeniji this week visited several towns bordering Liberia to assess the refugee and returnee situation in the area.

He also crossed the Mano River Bridge to Bo Waterside in Liberia, where he sought assurances from the Liberians that refugees and returnees were being allowed to cross freely into Sierra Leone.

Mr. Adeniji said it was "an irony of fate" that the inflow of refugees is in the opposite direction than in the past - now from Liberia to Sierra Leone.