[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 20 (Monday, May 22, 2000)]
[Pages 1107-1108]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders Reporting on the Situation in Sierra 
Leone

May 12, 2000

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)

    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

[[Page 1108]]

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

Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, and Strom Thurmond, President pro tempore of 
the Senate. This letter was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on May 15.