Sierra Leone & Liberia
UN forces in Sierra Leone confirm Liberian intrusions

afrol News, 17 June - The Force Commander of the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), Lt. Gen. Daniel I. Opande, himself had toured the Liberian border to assess the intrusions of Liberian government troops and rebels. Earlier, the rebels had warned they could be forced to enter Sierra Leonean territory. 

The UNAMSIL Headquarters in Freetown, Sierra Leone, have confirmed a three-day tour in the border areas along Sierra Leone's eastern province, headed by the troops' highest leader, "to assess the security situation in light of growing hostilities in Liberia."

In Buedu, a small border town between Sierra Leone and Liberia, a Pakistani UNAMSIL officer informed Lt. Gen. Opande that since the beginning of the year, eight rebel incidents had been reported within his area of deployment. "These included the recent defections into Sierra Leone of troops from the Armed Forces of Liberia and Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD)," UNAMSIL informs.

LURD last week had warned the Sierra Leonean government that escalating Liberian civil war could spread over the border. The warning came after the rebels reported to have been attacked by Liberian government forces and militias from Sierra Leonean territory. "We are therefore calling on the authorities of Sierra Leone to act decisively because we do not want to be forced to enter Sierra Leone in pursuit of these forces operating out of their territories," a communiqué said.

Lt. Gen. Opande's mission had confirmed some Liberian intrusions, but most border posts reported the situation was calm. In Yanga - where the Guinean Army is deployed along the three countries' common borders - Opande was informed by the officer commanding the Guinean forces that since the beginning of rebel activities in Liberia, there has been no threat to security within his area of responsibility. The Guinean officer however noted with concern "the growing influx of Liberian refugees."

In all his visits along the border areas, the Opande had urged his troops "to maintain constant vigilance to ensure that the border remained safe and free from armed incursions." He stressed that Sierra Leonean returnees and Liberian refugees must be properly screened to prevent the flow of weapons into Sierra Leone. He further appealed to local communities to "remain law-abiding and to assist national security agencies as well as UNAMSIL in maintaining peace by identifying and reporting those who might threaten the peace to responsible authorities."

Asked to assess the security situation on the border, UNAMSIL spokeswoman Margaret Novicki said "the fact that the Force Commander spent three days in the border region indicates that the security situation on the Liberian side of the border is worsening, and it's a cause for concern for us in UNAMSIL to see to it that our side of the border remains calm, safe and secure."

Before Force Commander Opande had left, he told the press there had been reports of a total of 43 Liberian fighters who had crossed over to Sierra Leone. Novicki had not been given any updated numbers as a result of Opande's recognition tour. 

The mission had taken Opande to the Sierra Leonean border towns of Daru, Kailahun, Joru, Koindu Buedu, Dawa Bomaru and Baiwala; all in the eastern Kailahun District. This is the same area LURD had described as a base of attacks against its rebel units. 

Sources: Based on Unamsil and afrol archives