PRESIDENT KABBAH WELCOMES LIBYA'S QADHAFI TO SIERRA LEONE

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000404 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W E.O. 12958 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SL SUBJECT: PRESIDENT KABBAH WELCOMES LIBYA'S QADHAFI TO SIERRA LEONE ¶1. SUMMARY: Libyan leader Qadhafi visited Sierra Leone June 25-27. On his first visit to Sierra Leone, Qadhafi was warmly welcomed by President Kabbah and other top level GoSL officials. Qadhafi addressed a large gathering at the National Stadium where he formally donated 19 passenger buses to the Government. Qadhafi and concluded a joint business agreement with the GoSL before departing. His visit generated controversy as most Sierra Leoneans feel Qadhafi, through his support for RUF leader Foday Sankoh, was partly responsible for the ten year civil war that ended in 2002. END SUMMARY. ¶2. Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi visited Sierra Leone June 25-27. On his first visit to Sierra Leone, Qadhafi arrived by road from Guinea en route to the African Union (AU) Summit in Accra, Ghana. He was met near the Guinea-Sierra Leone border by President Kabbah, Paramount Chiefs and other top government officials. He and his entourage arrived into Freetown late on the evening of June 25. His motorcade, numbering over 50 vehicles, disrupted traffic in Freetown during much of his visit. ¶3. On June 26, the GoSL held a welcome ceremony at the National Stadium. Qadhafi, dressed in an Elvis-style white jumpsuit, was greeted with a standing ovation and cultural performance by nearly 2,000 people as he entered the stadium flanked by President Kabbah. In attendance were Minister of Foreign Affairs Momodu Koroma, Deputy Minister of Defense Joe Blell, Minister of Sports and Youth Dr. Denis Bright, Minister of Social Welfare Shirley Gbujama and other top government officials. Other attendees included civil society and Muslim organizations. ¶4. In his welcome address, FM Momodu Koroma said the GoSL had invited Qadhafi to express their gratitude for his leadership in Africa, his friendship with Sierra Leone and his contributions to the socio-economic development of the country, and for his love and help towards the suffering people of Africa. ¶5. In his speech, President Kabbah showered Qadhafi with praise and called him a true friend of Sierra Leone for his numerous contributions, including a million dollar check which President Kabbah received when he took office. Qadhafi also sent two shiploads of rice, which President Kabbah ordered to be sold under market value. Kabbah said the money from the rice sales went towards financing the creation of the National Security and Insurance Scheme (NASSIT). ¶6. President Kabbah also thanked Qadhafi for donating 40 tractors, 13 garbage trucks, 9 dump trucks, three water tankers, and 18 passenger buses. He also thanked Qadhafi for his generosity for chartering flights on several occasions for Muslims to perform Hajj. Kabbah also credited Qadhafi for his intervention when the late Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebel leader Foday Sankoh attempted to renege on agreements reached with the GoSL during the Peace Accord negations. ¶7. Qadhafi thanked the people of Sierra Leone for the rousing welcome accorded him and pledged continued assistance for the country's post war recovery process. He also formally donated 19 more Mercedes Benz passenger buses to the GoSL bringing to 39 the number of buses he had donated to Sierra Leone in less than one year, in addition to other types of vehicles. ¶8. On June 26, President Kabbah hosted a state dinner to honor Qadhafi at the President's Lodge. Top level ministers, government officials, and heads of diplomatic missions, including the Ambassador, attended the dinner, where President Kabbah presented Qadhafi with the highest honor in Sierra Leone, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic of Sierra Leone. Qadhafi also concluded a joint business agreement with President Kabbah before he departed June 27 for Cote d'Ivoire. As his entourage was departing Freetown, Qadhafi's staff reportedly threw food and clothing items to onlookers as the motorcade left Freetown. ¶9. COMMENT: Reactions to Qadhafi's visit were mainly negative. Local newspapers and political opposition party leaders were quick to criticize the GoSL for its lavish and favorable treatment of Qadhafi. Most Sierra Leoneans hold Qadhafi responsible for fueling the ten-year civil war through his support for Foday Sankoh and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). During a radio interview with the BBC, People's Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) presidential candidate and party leader Charles Margai criticized the ruling SLPP saying that if he was president he would never welcome Qadhafi in Sierra Leone, and he would demand an apology and reparations for the destabilizing role Qadhafi played during the 10 year civil war. END COMMENT.