By Septimus Senessie in Kono
The Executive Representative of the UN Secretary General (ERSG) in Sierra Leone says the mandate of his mission has ended in Kono district. Addressing a news conference at Uncle Ben’s Hotel, Anders Toyberg-Frandzen said the UNIPSIL regional office in the district had been handed `over to the UN family comprising.
He said the drawdown of UNIPSIL in the country was in fulfillment of the agreement between the government of Sierra Leone and the world body that by 14 March next year the mandate of UNIPSIL will end,’ adding that ‘’it is the process that has started with Kono District followed by other district”. He added that their mandate would be transferred to other UN agencies like UNICEF, UNIDO, WFP, UNDP, WHO, UNHCR and UN Women among others, which make up the UN Country Team.
The ERSG said that UNIPSIL was leaving the country on ‘’a strong footing’’ adding that since the UN peacekeepers left the country, it had made significant progress especially in the areas of maintaining internal security, upholding democratic tenets, promoting human and children’s rights and access to justice among others. He cited the Sierra Leone police and army who are serving in peacekeeping missions in Sudan and praised the youth of Kono for their recent denunciation of violence saying it is signified that the country could look after its own affairs.
He assured that they would keep helping the government to achieve its mandate to its citizen through collaborative efforts with the UN family.
Handing over a goodbye gift to the ERSG and his deputy, Paramount Chief Emmanuel Torche Foyor of Sia chiefdom thanked UNIPSIL for their support to district saying, “we will keep remembering you for the good work you have done in the district especially in the area of peacebuilding and consolidation.’’ He appealed to the UN country team to follow the footsteps of UNIPSIL.
© Politico 03/10/13
