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S. Leone Rebels, Pro-Govt. Militia to Continue Disarmament
Sierra Leone's rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and pro-government Civil Defense Forces (CDF), namely Kamajors, have agreed to extend the disarmament period of their fighters beyond the initially decided May 28 deadlines, reports reaching here Sunday from the country's capital Freetown said.
After the RUF and CDF conclude disarmament in the northern areas of Kambia and Port Loko, similar operations will be conducted at the district level in other parts of the country, including the eastern Kono district, on May 30, government and rebel officials were quoted as saying Monday.
"The RUF and the Civil Defense Forces will be disarmed in the whole district of Kono and demobilized. We should not hesitate to give a chance to peace," Chairman of the RUF Political and Peace Council Omrie Golley said.
The demobilization followed the signing of a cease-fire agreement in Freetown on May 15 between the RUF and CDF as a result of which an estimated 25,000 RUF and CDF combatants have been put in a process to disarm in about six months.
Earlier on Sunday, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) disclosed that nearly 4,000 fighters from the RUF and CDF had handed in their weapons since the disarmament began on May 18.
Meanwhile, the RUF Saturday also announced that it will return all weapons and war materiel seized from the UN and former West African Peacekeeping Forces.
The RUF announcement came shortly after the RUF rebels handed over 591 children to the UNAMSIL at their northern headquarters in Makeni, 138 kilometers northeast of Freetown.
The peace process in the war-torn country has been accelerating recently after the signing of the Freetown agreement. Although there have been occasional violations of the cease-fire, the UN said the agreement has generally been kept.
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