[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.