mono80-5cc380a41c0b6767.pdf

This report evaluates the transition from peacekeeping to peace-building in Sierra Leone following the May 2002 national elections. It details the success of the disarmament and demobilisation (DD) process, the challenges of reintegrating over 70,000 ex-combatants, and the restructuring of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP). The document also examines the role of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) in providing security and public information, the efforts to extend state authority to the interior, the management of the diamond industry, and the implementation of transitional justice through the Special Court and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

• The disarmament and demobilisation (DD) programme, coordinated by the National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (NCDDR) and UNAMSIL, was declared successfully completed on 17 January 2002. A total of 72,490 combatants were disarmed, including 24,352 from the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and 37,377 from the Civil Defence Forces (CDF), with 6,845 of these being children. The process resulted in the collection of 42,300 weapons and 1.2 million rounds of ammunition.
• Reintegration of ex-combatants faces significant hurdles due to extreme poverty and a lack of formal training. By October 2002, 56,751 of the 69,463 discharged ex-combatants had registered for reintegration, with 14,220 completing skills training and 19,073 in ongoing programmes. Challenges include funding shortfalls, the high mobility of ex-combatants, and community resentment toward those who committed atrocities during the war.
• The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) consists of 14,500 personnel and is undergoing a transformation into a professional force with support from the UK's International Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT). This reform includes the Military Reintegration Programme (MRP), which integrated 2,600 former RUF and CDF combatants into the army. However, the force lacks permanent infrastructure outside Freetown, with many soldiers living in makeshift shelters.
• The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) is being rebuilt from a state of collapse and corruption, with a goal to reach a pre-war strength of 9,500 officers by 2006. The force currently stands at 6,500. Support is provided by UNAMSIL's civilian police (CivPol) and the Commonwealth Community Safety and Security Project (CCSSP). A key objective is the transition to a community-based policing model that is accountable to the people rather than the government.
• UNAMSIL is implementing an Adjustment, Draw-down and Withdrawal Plan (ADWP) to transfer security responsibility to the Government of Sierra Leone. The plan consists of four phases: Adjustment (pruning non-essential troops), Initial Draw-down (concentrating forces in central areas and bordering Liberia), Subsequent Draw-down (pulling back to Freetown and Lungi), and final Withdrawal. The pace of withdrawal is tied to security benchmarks, including the capacity of the RSLAF and SLP.

APA

Meek, S. (n.d.). mono80-5cc380a41c0b6767.pdf. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono80.pdf

Chicago

Meek, Sarah. mono80-5cc380a41c0b6767.pdf. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono80.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Meek |first1=Sarah |title=mono80-5cc380a41c0b6767.pdf |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono80.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{meekndmono805cc380a41c0b6767pdf, author = {Meek, Sarah}, title = {{mono80-5cc380a41c0b6767.pdf}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Mono80.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }