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afrol.com, 6 September - The Security Council yesterday morning extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) until 20 September by unanimous vote. The Security Council originally established UNAMSIL on 22 October 1999 to cooperate with the Government of Sierra Leone and the other parties in implementing the Lomé Peace Agreement and to assist in the implementation of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration plan. Its mandate was revised on 7 February, and the size of the Mission was expanded. Its size was again increased on 19 May. To enable UNAMSIL to enhance its operational structure and overall effectiveness, and to deploy progressively in strength to key areas, the Secretary-General also recommended that the Council authorize an increase in its strength to a level of 20,500 military personnel, including 260 military observers. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, urged the Government of Sierra Leone, with the assistance of donor countries, to develop and implement its plans for the extension of its authority throughout the country and to consolidate its administration as soon as possible. Of particular importance is the development of Sierra Leone's capacity to ensure its own security. Annan is to meet with most African leaders during the UN Millennium Summit held in New York now, and it is believed that he will dedicate much time to Sierra Leone President Tejan Kabbah. Other African presidents that have been heavily involved in the peace negotiations, in particular Malian president Alpha Oumar Konaré and Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, will also attend to the summit. Liberian Charles Taylor, a party to the conflict, is not expected in New York. Kabbah left for New York on Monday. According to a report by Kofi Annan, the support that the United States has recently indicated it would provide to troops from West African countries earmarked to serve with UNAMSIL is a particularly welcome step to extend the capacity of UNAMSIL. Source: Based on UN
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