Rebels Disarming U.N. Troops in Sierra Leone

By Colum Lynch

Washington Post

Monday, February 7, 2000

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 6-U.N. troops responsible for disarming combatants in the West African country of Sierra Leone are being stripped of their own weapons, raising concerns about the U.N.'s capability to establish its authority there, according to U.N. and Western diplomats.

In the past month, peacekeepers from Kenya and Guinea have surrendered at least 110 assault rifles, several rocket-propelled grenade launchers, four armored personnel carriers, communications equipment and other military gear in at least three ambushes by ex-soldiers and elements of the rebel Revolutionary United Front (RUF) army, one of Africa's most brutal guerrilla armies.

In each incident, the African troops put up no resistance.

U.N. officials say the Kenyans were severely outnumbered in two ambushes while the Guinean troops had not yet come under U.N. command.

The peacekeepers' failure to respond with force has caused U.S., British and some U.N. officials to worry that the rebels will step up their armed challenges to the U.N. forces as they assume greater responsibility for security from a departing Nigerian-led West African force in the coming months. On Thursday, CIA Director George J. Tenet told Congress the rebels are "poised to break a tenuous cease-fire and resume a campaign of terror."

The U.N.'s weak reaction is raising doubts in Congress about the fitness of the U.N. forces in Sierra Leone on the eve of a Security Council vote on Monday to expand the peacekeeping mission from 6,000 to 11,100 troops. Rep. Tony P. Hall (D-Ohio) said he and other members of Congress will consider the U.N.'s conduct when they weigh the administration's request for $80 million to fund an expanded U.N. operation in Sierra Leone.

"Is an increase in the force going to do any good?" Hall said. "That's a lot of money, and their record hasn't been so hot."

The Security Council first authorized a U.N. peacekeeping force for Sierra Leone in October 1999, to help implement the Lome peace accord. The agreement was signed by the government and the RUF in an attempt to end a nine-year-old civil war that has degenerated into a competition over the country's vast diamond wealth.

Under the agreement, the United Nations will grant ex-combatants $300 in exchange for a weapon and a commitment to return to civilian life or join the country's new national army. U.S. and U.N. officials say that 9,000 to 13,000 former combatants have turned over their weapons, but they concede that there is little evidence the rebels are ready to end their attacks on civilians and U.N. peacekeepers.

In the latest challenge to the United Nations, 100 RUF rebels held up 20 Kenyan peacekeepers traveling from the capital of Freetown to their headquarters in the town of Makeni. The Jan. 31 ambush--which netted five G-3 assault rifles, a portable radio, and some ammunition--occurred two weeks after a separate convoy of Kenyan peacekeepers was robbed of five assault rifles by ex-soldiers loyal to Johnny Paul Koromah.

Koromah, a former officer in the Sierra Leone army, headed the junta--which also included the RUF--that was ousted by Nigerian troops in 1998. His splinter group is not part of the peace agreement.

Oluyeme Adeniji, the secretary general's representative in Sierra Leone, defended the Kenyans' conduct in a telephone interview, saying they had no option but to submit to a superior force. "Should they turn this into a fight that they knew they were going to lose?" he said, noting that two of the rifles have been recovered through negotiations with rebel leaders. "Or do they let them have it, knowing we will get the weapons back?"

But U.N. and Western diplomats were severely critical of a contingent of more than 100 well-armed Guinean soldiers who surrendered the largest arms stockpile to date to a far smaller group of rebels on Jan. 14.

The Guineans were en route to Freetown to begin a new U.N. assignment when they were stopped by a rebel roadblock. Under orders from their government to avoid combat, they put up no resistance.

The extent of the losses during the robbery is unclear because the Guineans have not provided an account of the losses to the United Nations. U.N. and Western diplomats said they believe that at least 100 assault rifles, an undetermined number of rocket-propelled grenade launchers and four armored personnel carriers were stolen.

But Deborah DeYoung, an aide to Hall, said the congressman has received credible reports from contacts in Sierra Leone that nearly 500 AK-47s, 20 grenade launchers and several vehicles, including a truck full of ammunition, were seized. She has also received reports that the rebels have conducted several more robberies of U.N. and West African peacekeepers that have not been reported.

RUF leader Foday Sankoh said the hijackers were rogue bandits, and he has pledged to help recover the stolen property, Adeniji said. He added that Sankoh has also promised to live up to the Lome peace agreement.

Despite the setbacks, U.S. and other Western officials say they have confidence in the U.N.'s Indian military commander, Maj. Gen. Vijay Kumar Jetley, to restore discipline in the U.N. ranks.

On Monday, U.S. and British officials will meet with peacekeeping officials to urge a more robust response to future challenges.

"Has it been perfectly smooth?" said Philip Winslow, a U.N. spokesman in Freetown. "No. But I don't think anyone here questions the U.N.'s capacity to do the job."