The new Sierra Leone government has taken major steps to implement its reform agenda, as well as policies that promote transparency and accountability, a senior UN official said Wednesday.
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Dmitry Titov told the UN Security Council that in July the country would take another major step with the holding of the local council elections, although political tensions between supporters of the two political parties would likely persist in the lead-up to the elections.
Considerable progress had been made in enhancing the professionalism and effectiveness of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces and the Sierra Leone Police, he said.
However, there had been little improvement in the socioeconomic conditions, and the soaring prices of staple commodities and fuel had only exacerbated the situation, he said.
Also briefing the council, Frank Majoor of the Netherlands, chair of the Peacebuilding Commission's Country-Specific Meetings on Sierra Leone, said that the government had made significant progress in implementing several commitments contained in the Peacebuilding Cooperation Framework.
However, the fragile economic situation -- against a backdrop of rising fuel and food prices -- meant that the United Nations and international partners needed to support the government to ensure that food security issues did not destabilize the country, especially in the lead-up to local elections, Majoor said, recommending that a task force be set up for that purpose.
The Sierra Leone Peacebuilding Cooperation Framework was adopted by the Peacebuilding Commission on Dec. 12, 2007 to ensure Sierra Leone's cooperation with the commission on the basis of national ownership, mutual accountability and sustained engagement.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article