Emerging conflict in Côte d'Ivoire complicates situation in Sierra Leone - Annan

As the United Nations steps up the complex and delicate troop-reduction programme for its peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone, ongoing tensions in Liberia and the emergence of a new conflict in Côte d'Ivoire continue to pose threats to peace and security in the region, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in a new report released today.

In his latest report to the Security Council on the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNMASIL), Mr. Annan notes that the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire - with the reported involvement of former armed elements from both Liberia and Sierra Leone - has complicated the nature of conflict in Sierra Leone's neighbourhood.

"This worrisome development gives added urgency to the need for a comprehensive regional approach," the Secretary-General says, adding that he is "greatly encouraged" by the Security Council's proposal to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the situation in Liberia and to send an assessment mission to the region in early 2003.

Characterizing the phased withdrawal of UN troops in Sierra Leone "the most challenging operation undertaken by the Mission since the disarmament process" between May 2001 to January 2002, Mr. Annan notes that even though those difficulties might increase, overall UNAMSIL did not foresee any insurmountable security problems.

Still, the Secretary-General stresses that the drawdown is a complex task that requires "meticulous management of the risks involved in transferring security responsibilities to the Government of Sierra Leone" and elaborate coordination, not only between UNAMSIL's military, political and logistical components, but also with the relevant departments of the Government as well as development partners, whose activities were extremely important to efforts to consolidate peace on the ground.

The first two phases of the plan envisage a reduction in the Mission's troop strength to 13,000 by May 2003, down from 17,500. The completion of the first phase on 8 November 2002 - with the withdrawal of 600 troops from Bangladesh and Nigeria - and the progress made so far in implementing the second phase constitute an encouraging beginning, Mr. Annan observes. However, he stresses that much still needs to be done to strengthen the presence of Sierra Leone police in the areas to be evacuated by UNAMSIL in the second and third phases of the process.