Sierra Leone.

• Position: Includes related article on refugees - Military intervention by Economic Community of West African States

After weeks of intense fighting in Sierra Leone in February 1998, especially around the capital of Freetown, the military junta, which under coup leader Major Johnny Paul Koroma had overthrown the democratically-elected government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah on 25 May 1997, was itself ousted by the military forces of the Military Observer Group (ECOMOG) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The military intervention by ECOMOG to reverse the situation had prompted the junta to Sign a peace agreement on 23 October 1997 in Conakry, Guinea, agreeing to restore to power the legitimate government of President Kabbah on 22 April 1998. But according to Secretary-General Kofi Annan's report of 8 December, "little concrete progress" had been made in its implementation. He stressed that, though the signing of the Conakry Agreement was a significant step towards resolving the crisis in the country, it needed to be pursued "with a sense of urgency, with pressure being exerted on the Freetown junta".

The Secretary-General on 11 February said his Special Envoy, Francis Okelo, stood ready to assist in the implementation of the agreement.

The Security Council on 13 February called for immediate humanitarian assistance to Sierra Leone. The Council stated its concern over the unstable situation and the reported loss of civilian lives. Emphasizing that international humanitarian assistance needed to be upheld, the Council called for the immediate activation of such assistance, including cross border operations and unrestricted access to people in need. It also called for a guarantee of the safety and security of all humanitarian personnel in Sierra Leone.

On 10 February, expressing deep concern over the humanitarian situation and the plight of the civilian population, the Council called for an immediate end to the fighting in Sierra Leone and stressed the need for disarmament and demobilization of all fighting factions as necessary to any eventual settlement.

The Secretary-General was working to re-establish a United Nations liaison office in Freetown. In his 6 February report, he asked the Council to consider sending as many as ten military staff to Sierra Leone, but stopped short of recommending the...