SIERRA LEONE: ENSURING UNIOSIL CLOSES THE RIGHT WAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000392 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR P, IO AND AF E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2018 TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC SL SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE: ENSURING UNIOSIL CLOSES THE RIGHT WAY REF: USUN 193 Classified By: Deputy Permanent Representative Ambassador Alejandro Wolff for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. This is an action request. See paras 2-3. ¶2. (U) The United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) was extended until September 30, 2008 by UNSCR 1793 (2007). UNSCR 1793 required that a completion strategy for UNIOSIL be set out by January 31, 2008, and that the Secretary General provide specific proposals as to the SIPDIS structure and strength of the post-UNIOSIL office -- a United Nations integrated political office -- in April. An advance copy of the SYG's latest report was circulated on April 30 and will shortly be issued under symbol S/2008/282. The Security Council will take up the SYG's report on May 7. ¶3. (C) The Secretary General is proposing that UNIOSIL be succeeded in October by the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL). The upcoming discussion on the report and recommendations presents an opportunity for the U.S. to advance its goal of exercising leadership and oversight in the Security Council on UN peacekeeping and political missions in the field so that scarce UN resources are spent wisely and where no longer necessary, missions are shut down (per reftel). The current report offers specific suggestions as to how to drawdown UNIOSIL and transfer to the proposed successor office. USUN requests that the Department review the report in careful detail, with a focus on its provisions for drawing down and transitioning the mission to a peacebuilding function. The Department might also consider how to better utilize the Peacebuilding Commission's engagement with Sierra Leone to facilitate the drawdown. We would welcome specific comments and questions to raise with respect to the drawdown proposed. Mission further requests that the Department solicit input from Embassy Freetown to help assess the viability and efficacy of the drawdown and proposed follow-on, based on the facts on ground. Khalilzad