[House Document 106-236]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



106th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-236


 
            NOTIFICATION OF SUPPLY DELIVERY TO SIERRA LEONE

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              TRANSMITTING

NOTIFICATION THAT ON MAY 12, A U.S. C-17 AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED TO 
  DELIVER URGENTLY REQUIRED AMMUNITION AND OTHER SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT 
  TO SIERRA LEONE FOR THE JORDANIAN CONTINGENT IN UNAMSIL.





May 15, 2000.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations and 
                         ordered to be printed

                               __________

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
79-011                     WASHINGTON : 2000

                                           The White House,
                                          Washington, May 12, 2000.
The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: Military forces of the Government of 
Sierra Leone and Military Observer Group (ECOMOG) forces 
provided by the Economic Community of West African States 
(ECOWAS) were engaged in military operations in Sierra Leone 
against the insurgent Revolutionary United Front (RUF) until 
mid-1999. At that time, the Government of Sierra Leone and the 
RUF signed the Lome Peace Agreement, which provides for an end 
to hostilities and the disarmament, demobilization, and 
resettlement of the insurgent RUF forces. The United Nations 
Security Council in U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1270 and 
1289 established the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone 
(UNAMSIL) to facilitate implementation of the Lome Agreement 
and provide security at key locations and government buildings 
and at all sites of the disarmament, demobilization, and 
reintegration program, among other tasks.
    Recently, as UNAMSIL expanded its efforts to establish 
monitoring and disarmament sites in or near RUF-controlled 
territory, RUF forces initiated military activity in those 
areas, killing at least four peacekeepers, and capturing or 
isolating hundreds of UNAMSIL personnel. The situation is 
critical. The United States is consulting with the United 
Nations, members of the U.N. Security Council, troop-
contributing countries and West African States on ways to 
resolve the crisis.
    The U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone has drawn down its Embassy 
personnel and evacuated U.S. citizens to minimize the number of 
U.S. citizens exposed to risk. The Ambassador and a small 
support staff will remain in Freetown for the time being to 
monitor the situation. As a prudent planning measure, a U.S. 
coastal patrol vessel, USS THUNDERBOLT (PC 12), has deployed to 
the region to participate in an evacuation operation of U.S. 
personnel should such action become warranted. This vessel and 
her crew are equipped with the normal complement of weapons.
    The United Kingdom informed us that it was deploying an 
aircraft carrier and an amphibious readiness group to Sierra 
Leone to prepare to participate in evacuation operations if 
necessary. Some of the units identified to participate in such 
an operation include U.S. military personnel on exchange 
programs with the British military. The British government 
requested permission for a small number of U.S. military 
exchange personnel to deploy with their units if they were 
directed to participate in evacuation operations in Sierra 
Leone. Secretary of Defense Cohen has authorized these U.S. 
exchange personnel to deploy to Sierra Leone with their host 
units in support of these activities.
    On May 12, a U.S. C-17 aircraft is scheduled to deliver 
urgently required ammunition and other supplies and equipment 
to Sierra Leone for the Jordanian contingent in UNAMSIL. The 
United States will provide further transportation support for 
the U.N. mission and its contingents. Such transportation 
support may result in the temporary presence of logistics 
aircraft and associated support personnel, including, as 
appropriate, force protection elements at the international 
airport near Freetown. In addition, the United States has sent 
an advance party of military logistics planners of the U.S. 
European Command to Nigeria to discuss with Nigerian officials 
their specific airlift requirements should it become necessary 
to move military forces from Nigeria into Sierra Leone.
    These actions have been taken pursuant to my constitutional 
authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in 
Chief and Chief Executive. I am providing this report as part 
of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent 
with the War Powers Resolution. I appreciate the support of the 
Congress in these matters.
            Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton.

                                  
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