UNAMSIL Hits the Home Straight

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and its efforts to stabilize the country following a decade of civil war. It details the mission's transition from an initial period of failure and hostage-taking in May 2000 to a more successful phase of deployment and disarmament starting in May 2001. The document examines the military, political, and civilian challenges of the peace process, including the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) of combatants, the restoration of government authority, the role of British military support, and the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms like the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

• UNAMSIL experienced a severe crisis in May 2000 when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) attacked positions in Makeni and Magburaka, leading to the capture of over 500 UN personnel and a temporary impasse in the peace process.
• The mission recovered its credibility and operational capacity after May 2001, reaching an authorized strength of 17,500 personnel by November 2001, supported by a Pakistani brigade and a Russian air wing that provided a necessary deterrent capacity.
• Disarmament of former fighters under the government's DDR programme formally ended on 7 January 2002, with 45,449 former combatants having handed over weapons between 18 May 2001 and 6 January 2002.
• The reintegration of ex-combatants remains a significant civilian challenge due to a moribund formal economy and the lure of alluvial diamond mining, which some suspect may be used to fund RUF re-armament.
• The United Kingdom provided critical security sector reform through Operation Basilica and the International Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT), focusing on rebuilding the Sierra Leone Army (SLA) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP).
• The transformation of the RUF into a legitimate political party is viewed as a critical requirement for long-term success, yet the report notes this process has been neglected and obstructed by the government.
• The Special Court for Sierra Leone was designed as a hybrid institution to prosecute those 'bearing the greatest responsibility' for war crimes, while the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) focuses on creating an impartial historical record and promoting national healing.
• The report highlights the critical role of the Child Protection Advisor in negotiating the release of child combatants and notes the emergence of a commercial sex trade involving child prostitutes catering to UNAMSIL personnel.
• The National Electoral Commission (NEC) set the date for presidential and parliamentary elections for 14 May 2002, though the report argues that the lack of a census, valid voters' roll, and ID cards makes 'free and fair' elections unlikely.

APA

Malan, M., Rakate, P., & McIntyre, A. (n.d.). UNAMSIL Hits the Home Straight. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono68Full.pdf

Chicago

Malan, Mark, Phenyo Rakate, and Angela McIntyre. UNAMSIL Hits the Home Straight. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono68Full.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Malan |first1=Mark |last2=Rakate |first2=Phenyo |last3=McIntyre |first3=Angela |title=UNAMSIL Hits the Home Straight |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono68Full.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{malanndunamsil, author = {Malan, Mark and Rakate, Phenyo and McIntyre, Angela}, title = {{UNAMSIL Hits the Home Straight}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono68Full.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }