    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [May 11, 2000]
    [Pages 904-905]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Situation in Sierra Leone
    May 11, 2000

        U.N. Secretary-General Annan and I agreed
    this morning that the international community must intensify
    international efforts to restore peace in Sierra Leone and to prevent a
    return

    [[Page 905]]

    to all-out civil war. The situation there has been grave. But the U.N.
    is determined to fulfill its mission; African and other nations are
    willing to act; and we are ready to help them.
        I have instructed our military to provide needed assistance to
    accelerate the deployment of troops to UNAMSIL and informed the U.N.
    that the United States will help transport reinforcements. A U.S.
    military transport aircraft is now in Jordan to move ammunition and
    supplies that are needed immediately for the Jordanian elements in
    Sierra Leone.
        We intend to support the commitment West African nations have made
    to send additional troops to Sierra Leone to restore peace. A U.S.
    military team is now in Nigeria to determine what assistance might be
    needed from the international community to outfit and transport these
    forces as quickly as possible.
        I welcome the statement West African leaders made on Tuesday at
    their emergency summit in Abuja, Nigeria, calling for the release of all
    hostages and pledging to protect democratic institutions in Sierra
    Leone.
        I have asked Rev. Jesse Jackson, my
    Special Envoy for Democracy in Africa, to return to the region to work
    with leaders there for a peaceful resolution of this crisis. Reverend
    Jackson has been actively involved in our diplomatic effort to help the
    people of Sierra Leone realize their peaceful aspirations.