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Sierra Leonean Official Welcomes End of U.N. Sanctions

   Peter Clottey 29 September 2010

   Sierra  Leoneâs  Information  Minister  has welcomed the U.N. Security
   Councilâs  decision  to  lift  its  sanctions against the West African
   nation after the civil war there ended eight years ago.

   Alhaji  Ibrahim  Ben Kargbo told VOA the move will serve as a catalyst
   for the international business community to invest in his country.

   âWe  are  very  satisfied and very happy that this is a step that will
   give  confidence  to investors and people of goodwill who will want to
   come  to  this  country to do business. And, apart from that, the very
   population  here  in  Freetown,  and in Sierra Leone in general, seems
   very  satisfied  that  this  aura  has  been  removed  (from  off) the
   shoulders of the citizens of this country.â

   Kargbo also said that âsince the end of the war, we have taken all the
   reforms  necessary.  We  have  moved  towards effective reconciliation
   trying  to forget about the past and making it very clear that the war
   that buffeted this country will never be repeated again.â

   Ex-  Liberian President Charles Taylor is is accused of playing a role
   in Siera Leone's civil war

   He further stated that Sierra Leoneans are grateful that the sanctions
   have been lifted following the protracted civil war.

   In  1997,  The  United Nations imposed arms and travel sanctions after
   rebels were accused of killing over 50,000 people and many others were
   mutilated during Sierra Leoneâs civil war from 1991 to 2002.

   Analysts say the country is making efforts at reconciliation, but also
   warn that tensions persist due to the high unemployment rate among the
   countryâs young people.

   Kargbo  said  the  sanctions  made  it difficult for the government to
   attract investors.

   âWhen  the  sanctions  were  in place until today, insurance companies
   were  very  leery about handling insurance matters and, therefore, the
   shippers`  and,  therefore, the people who imported goods and services
   to  Sierra Leone paid extremely high insurance premiums because Sierra
   Leone  was  still  listed  as  an  unstable  country  because  of  the
   non-lifting of this ban.â

   He  also  expressed confidence that the insurance companies will lower
   their premiums to attract investors.

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