By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Joint Assessment Mission by the international moral guarantors of the Agreement for National Unity in Sierra Leone, comprising the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), has concluded its four-day mission.
The mission was co-led by H.E. Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, former Vice President of The Gambia, and H.E. Leonardo Santos Simão, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNOWAS. The mission was facilitated by the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), with support from the African Union Commission, ECOWAS Commission and UNOWAS technical experts.
The assessment followed the anticipated conclusion of the Tripartite Committee’s report, formed by President Julius Maada Bio on December 19, 2023, as part of the eight resolutions in the Agreement for National Unity (ANU) signed on October 18, 2023, between the Government of Sierra Leone and the All People’s Congress (APC) party.
During their visit, the delegation met with President Julius Maada Bio, leaders of the APC party, senior Government officials, other political parties, national security agency representatives and the diplomatic community in Sierra Leone. Discussions focused on the implementation of the ANU resolutions, encountered challenge, and the need for ongoing political dialogue to ensure peace, stability and national cohesion.
The mission expressed concern over the spread of disinformation and misinformation on social media, which poses a threat to the collective efforts of the stakeholders in achieving the ANU’s objectives. Despite these challenges, the mission commended stakeholders for their commitment to dialogue, as evidenced by the joint statement issued on June 19, 2024, pledging to implement Resolution Three of the ANU and strengthen inclusive democracy.
The joint mission urged all parties to prioritize the full implementation of the ANU resolutions. As international moral guarantors, the mission called on Sierra Leone’s development partners to maintain their support and increase assistance to the Government and people of Sierra Leone. The mission reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the implementation of the ANU for the country’s peace, stability and national cohesion.
The mission also urged political actors and citizens to remain calm and prioritize national peace, unity, and stability over partisan interests. Additionally, the mission acknowledged stakeholders’ requests to increase the frequency of visits by international moral guarantors to ensure the smooth implementation of the ANU.
The mission expressed deep gratitude to H.E. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, and H.E. Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, for facilitating the mission.
