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UN chief to cut Sierra Leone peacebuilding mission by 20 percent |
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Thursday, 07 February 2008 |
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security
Council he plans to cut the Sierra Leone peacebuilding mission's staff
by 20 percent by March 31 and will reduce it further after local
government elections in July.
The Security Council voted unanimously on Dec. 21 to wrap up the Sierra Leone peacebuilding operation by
Sept. 30, praising last year's peaceful and democratic
elections in the west African nation and efforts to professionalize its
armed forces.
In a letter to the Security Council circulated Wednesday, Ban said the
mission's 309-strong civilian staff will be reduced to 247 by March 31,
a 20 percent cut as the council demanded in the December resolution.
A U.N. peacekeeping force helped put Sierra Leone back on the path to
stability after a bloody 11-year civil war, which lasted from 1991 to
2002. The peacekeeping force was replaced in January 2006 by a small
peacebuilding mission, but poverty continues to plague the country,
which has one of the world's lowest life expectancy and literacy rates.
Until its mandate expires in September, Ban said the mission will
continue to implement «key tasks» _ assisting the government in
conducting local elections, monitoring the security situation and
strengthening the police and national security office and promoting good governance and supporting efforts to fight corruption.
Ban said the mission will also monitor
and promote human rights and the rule of law, use United Nations Radio
to promote «a culture of peace, dialogue and participation,» support
the empowerment of women, and help the U.N. Peacebuilding Commission,
which was established after the 2005 Millennium Summit to help
countries make the difficult transition from war to peace.
Sierra Leone and Burundi were the first two countries chosen to receive help from the commission.
The secretary-general said following the July 5 local
government elections, the peacebuilding mission «will gradually draw
down its remaining personnel,» leaving the administrative and
logistical staff who will wrap up its operations until last.
Ban said «it will be important to ensure that there is a smooth
transition» from the peacebuilding mission to the U.N. political office
that will be established afterward.
UN
chief to cut Sierra Leone peacebuilding mission by 20 percent by March 31
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