Sierra Leone (Hansard, 13 April 1999)

§ Baroness Hilton of Eggardon
asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they expect to publish the Government's response to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee report on Sierra Leone.

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
The Government's response will be published today.

§ Baroness Hilton of Eggardon
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What equipment is being provided by the UK to the monitoring group of the economic community of West African States (ECOMOG), as part of the UK's £10 million package of assistance to Sierra Leone; and what assurances they have received about its use.

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
We continue to believe that lasting peace in Sierra Leone cannot be achieved by military means alone. But for a negotiated solution to be achieved, the people and Government of Sierra Leone must be secure.
On 30 March, my right honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Tony Lloyd, announced that £5 million of the UK's new £10 million package of assistance for Sierra Leone would be made available to provide further equipment for ECOMOG; and that deliveries of equipment would be arriving shortly (Official Report, col. 566). This is to supprot ECOMOG's efforts to protect the people and the democratically elected Government of Sierra Leone. As part of our package of assistance to ECOMOG, we are providing logistic support in the form of vehicles, boots and rations, as well as light weapons and ammunition.
We have secured assurances from ECOMOG that this equipment will be used only in accordance with internationally acceptable human rights standards and humanitarian law. We have made clear to ECOMOG that our supprot is conditional on ECOMOG and the Government of Sierra Leone respecting human rights.
In accordance with normal practice, we will notify the United Nations Sanctions Committee once we have precise details of the consignments. We have received assurances from ECOMOG and the Government of Sierra Leone that the equipment will remain in Sierra Leone when ECOMOG eventually depart.