Abidjan Peace Accord
Encyclopedia
The Abidjan Peace Accord was a treaty signed between the Sierra Leone People's Party
(SLPP) government of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
, and the Revolutionary United Front
(RUF) rebel group led by Foday Sankoh
to find a resolution to the Sierra Leone Civil War
. Discussions for peace began in May 1996 in the city of Yamoussoukro
, and although the initial talks failed, the channels of communication had been opened. Talks continued off and on for the next six months, and on 20 November 1996, the Abidjan Peace Accord was signed in Abidjan
, Côte d'Ivoire
.
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were accused of attempting to overthrow Sankoh as leader of the RUF. The three were interred by RUF forces, and Sankoh consolidated power in the RUF leading up to the military coup of 25 May 1997 by Johnny Paul Koroma
, leader of the newly formed Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
, which joined forces with the RUF. This was certainly the death knell for any hope of peace stemming from the Abidjan Accords.
Sierra Leone People's Party
Sierra Leone People's Party is one of the two major political parties in Sierra Leone, along with the All People's Congress .-Formation:...
(SLPP) government of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah served as President of Sierra Leone from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007.He worked for the United Nations Development Programme and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992...
, and the Revolutionary United Front
Revolutionary United Front
The Revolutionary United Front was a rebel army that fought a failed eleven-year war in Sierra Leone, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002. It later developed into a political party, which existed until 2007...
(RUF) rebel group led by Foday Sankoh
Foday Sankoh
Foday Saybana Sankoh was the leader and founder of the Sierra Leone rebel group Revolutionary United Front in the 11-year-long Sierra Leone Civil War, starting in 1991 and ending in 2002...
to find a resolution to the Sierra Leone Civil War
Sierra Leone Civil War
The Sierra Leone Civil War began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front , with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia , intervened in Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government...
. Discussions for peace began in May 1996 in the city of Yamoussoukro
Yamoussoukro
The District of Yamoussoukro is the official political capital and administrative capital city of Côte d'Ivoire, while the economic capital of the country is Abidjan. As of 2010, it was estimated to have 242,744 inhabitants...
, and although the initial talks failed, the channels of communication had been opened. Talks continued off and on for the next six months, and on 20 November 1996, the Abidjan Peace Accord was signed in Abidjan
Abidjan
Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal...
, Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
.
Goals
The accords sought out a broad range of goals:- A National Commission for the Consolidation of Peace was to be established
- A Neutral Monitoring Group was proposed, which would consist of 700 troops
- All RUF combatants would disarm, and amnesty would be granted them
- Efforts would be made to reintegrate RUF rebels into society
- Foreign mercenary groups such as the government hired Executive OutcomesExecutive OutcomesExecutive Outcomes was a private military company founded in South Africa by former Lieutenant-Colonel of the South African Defence Force Eeben Barlow in 1989. It later became part of the South African-based holding company Strategic Resource Corporation....
would leave the country after the establishment of the monitoring group
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Results
The monitoring group did not get off the ground, and the RUF proposed it consist of only 120 monitors, and agreement could not be reached. Tensions mounted when RUF spokesmen and supporters of the Commission for the Consolidation of Peace, Fayia Musa, Ibrahim Deen-Jalloh, and Philip PalmerPhilip Palmer
Philip Palmer is a British novelist and screenwriter. He studied English at Jesus College, Oxford, matriculating in 1979.-Writing career:His first novel was Debatable Space, published in January 2008 by Orbit Books in the United Kingdom and the USA. Philip Palmer describes himself as "...a...
were accused of attempting to overthrow Sankoh as leader of the RUF. The three were interred by RUF forces, and Sankoh consolidated power in the RUF leading up to the military coup of 25 May 1997 by Johnny Paul Koroma
Johnny Paul Koroma
Johnny Paul Koroma was the Head of State of Sierra Leone from May 1997 to February 1998.-Youth and Education :Koroma grew up in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. However, he was born in Tombodu, Kono District, in eastern Sierra Leone to Limba parents. He is from the same ethnic group as...
, leader of the newly formed Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
Armed Forces Revolutionary Council
The Armed Forces Revolutionary Council was a group of Sierra Leone soldiers that allied itself with the rebel Revolutionary United Front in the late 1990s. While the AFRC briefly controlled the country in 1998, it was driven from the capital by a coalition of West African troops...
, which joined forces with the RUF. This was certainly the death knell for any hope of peace stemming from the Abidjan Accords.
Signatories
The signatories included:- Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah - President of the Republic of Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneSierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
- Corporal Foday Saybana Sankoh - Leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF)
- Henri Konan BédiéHenri Konan BédiéAimé Henri Konan Bédié is an Ivorian politician. He was President of Côte d'Ivoire from 1993 to 1999, and he is currently the President of the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire - African Democratic Rally .-Biography:...
- President of the Republic of Côte d'IvoireCôte d'IvoireThe Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be... - Berhanu Dinka - Special Envoy of the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Secretary-General for Sierra Leone - Adwoa Coleman (M/S) - Representative of the Organization of African Unity (OAU)
- Moses Anafu (DR) - Representative of the Commonwealth OrganizationCommonwealth of NationsThe Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...