Rawlings appoints new envoy for Sierra Leone

Accra (Greater Accra) 27 July '99

President Jerry John Rawlings on Monday expressed misgivings about the recent accord signed between the government of Sierra Leone and rebels, saying that the agreement "was a bitter pill for some of us to swallow".

The accord, signed in Lome last month, clearly rewards rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) who have inflicted so many atrocities on their people in eight years of brutal civil war, President Rawlings said when he presented letters of credence to Lieutenant-Colonel Ebenezer Anku-Tsede (Rtd) as High Commissioner-designate to Sierra Leone.

Under the accord, the rebels were given four cabinet and four deputy ministerial posts.

Their leader, Corporal Foday Sankoh, has the rank of Vice-President and chairs a commission, which controls Sierra Leone's mineral resources.

During the war, the rebels were reputed to have carried out brutalities that included amputations, burning, summary executions, and drawing condemnation from the international community.

President Rawlings stated: "if the accord is going to improve the situation in Sierra Leone, let us see it".

President Rawlings told the High Commissioner-designate: "it is on account of your qualities that government decided on you to undertake such a commission in a complex country".

Mr Nathan Quao, an Adviser to the President, and Mr Joseph Laryea, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, both spoke about the difficulties Sierra Leone would face in a post-civil war era and appealed to Lt-Col. Anku-Tsede to assist in establishing a permanent peace.

"It is not going to be easy to achieve reconciliation in the light of atrocities committed during the civil war," Mr Quao said.

Mr Laryea asked him to stay within the rules, saying "some heads of missions have fallen with their staff because they want to devise their own rules".

Lt-Col. Anku-Tsede thanked the government for the appointment and said he would give of his best.