Agreement of Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities between the Sierra Leone Government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) ('Abuja Ceasefire Agreement')

• Country/entity

  Sierra Leone
  
• Region

  Africa (excl MENA)
  
• Agreement name

  Agreement of Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities between the Sierra Leone Government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) ('Abuja Ceasefire Agreement')
• Date

  10 Nov 2000
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Intrastate/intrastate conflict ( Sierra Leone Civil War (1991 – 2002) )
• Stage

  Ceasefire/related
• Conflict nature

  Government
• Peace process

  Sierra Leone peace process
• Parties

  For the Government of Sierra Leone: Solomon Ekuma Berewa, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General for the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone; For the RUF: Jonathan Jim Kposowa, Chief of Administration for the Revolutionary United Front
• Third parties

  Witnesses: Joseph Laryea, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Representing the Republic of Ghana; Rouguiatou Diállo, Acting Chargé d'Affairs of the Embassy of Guinea in Nigeria Representing the Republic of Guinea; Daniel Chea, Sr. Minister of National Defence Representing the Republic of Liberia; Modibo Sidibé, Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Malians Abroad Representing the Republic of Mali; Lamido Sule, Minister of Foreign Affairs Representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Api Assoumatine, Ambassador of the Togolese Republic in Nigeria Representing the Togolese Republic; Lansana Kouyate, ECOWAS Executive Secretary; Oluyemi Adjeniji, Secretary-General's Special Representative in Sierra Leone
• Description

  Ceasefire agreement in attempt to have a 'fresh application' of the Lome Accord.

• Agreement document

  SL_001110_Abuja Agreement.pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Agreement of Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities between the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone Represented by Solomon Ekuma Berewa and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) Represented by Jonathan Jim Kposowa

The Government of Sierra Leone and RUF,

Reaffirming their determinationto establish sustainable peace, stability and security in Sierra Leone;

Also reaffirming their commitment to the Lome Peace Agreement of 7 July 1999 as the framework for the restoration of genuine and lasting peace to the country;

Desirous of adopting effective confidence-building measures so as to create a conducive environment for fresh application of the Lome Peace Agreement which constitutes the most appropriate framework for the resolution of the conflict in Sierra Leone;

Welcoming the emergemce of a new leadership within the RUF and noting its stated commitment to work towards the restoration of peace to Sierra Leone

Hereby agree as follows:

1. To delare and observe a cease-fire and to halt hostilities with effect for the 10th Day of November, 2000 starting at 12.00 midnight.

2. The parties agree to refrain from committing any act or carrying out any activity that might constitute or facilitate a violation of the ceasefire.

3. ( i) They agree that the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone shall supervise and monitor the cease-fire.

The United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone shall also investigate and report on any acts of cease-fire violation.

(ii) These reports shall be presented by UNAMISIL to a Committee comprising ECOWAS Committee of Six on Sierra Leone, the ECOWAS Secretariat, the United Nations, the Government of Sierra Leone and the RUF.

4. Both parties agree that UNAMISIL shall have full liberty to deploy its troops and other personnel throughout Sierra Leone includding the diamond producing areas in the discharge of its responsibilities, when UNAMISIL is satisfied that the ceasefire is observed by all the parties.

5. The parties undertake, with a view to restoring the authority of the Government throughout the entire territory of Sierra Leone, to ensure free movement of persons and goods, unimpeded movement of humanitarian agencies, and of refugees and displaced persons.

6. The RUF commits itself to the imediate return of all weapons, ammunitions and other equipment seized by the RUF.

7. The two parties agree to recommence immediately, for all combatents, the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintigration Programme.

8. The following shall constitue a violation of this Agreement:

(i) all illegal importation of arms, ammunitions and other weapons of war;

(ii) any attack by one of the parties against the positions of the other party before, during or after the deployment of UNAMSIL troops.

(iii) laying of mines or incendiary devices after the entry into force of this Agreement, the refusal to disclose the existence of such mines or explosives and their location, and the deliberate refusal to cooperate by turning over the maps indicating such locations;

iv) harassment or attacks, hostage taking and seizure of arms and equipment belonging to troops serving under the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, or under the authority of the Government of Sierra Leone;

v) obstructing the activities of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone.

9. The ultimate objective of the present Agreement is to ensure a cease-fire and to bring an end to the hostilities.

Consequently, the parties agree to undertake with the participation of the Ecowas Committee of six of the Mediation and Security Council on Sierra Leone and the United Nations, a review the implementation of this Agreement, thirty (30) days after its entry into force, to evaluate the timelines pf commencing fresh application of the Lome Peace Agreement.

Done at Abuja htis 10th Day of November, 2000

For the Government of Sierra Leone:

Solomon Ekuma Berewa, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General for the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone;

For the RUF:

Jonathan Jim Kposowa, Chief of Administration for the Revolutionary United Front

Witnesses:

Joseph Laryea, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Representing the Republic of Ghana;

Rouguiatou Diállo, Acting Chargé d'Affairs of the Embassy of Guinea in Nigeria Representing the Republic of Guinea;

Daniel Chea, Sr.

Minister of National Defence Representing the Republic of Liberia;

Modibo Sidibé, Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Malians Abroad Representing the Republic of Mali;

Lamido Sule, Minister of Foreign Affairs Representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria;

Api Assoumatine, Ambassador of the Togolese Republic in Nigeria Representing the Togolese Republic;

Lansana Kouyate, ECOWAS Executive Secretary;

Oluyemi Adjeniji, Secretary-General's Special Representative in Sierra Leone