Experienced journalist Kabs Kanu explains thus – Then, there was a closed door meeting to specifically discuss Sierra Leone and the tripartite talks. In the first session, some very significant things happened. The UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simao, Deputy Madam Lori Theroux-Benoni and many of the delegates informed the UN Security Council (Though without going to details that there were post- elections tensions in Sierra Leone and gave the picture that all was not well). The SRSG said that the hope for peace in Sierra Leone was the tripartite dialogue. They all did not go to details probably because they had planned to do so during the closed-door meeting. (Photo: Lori Benoni).

The most significant occurrence which I am sure nobody listening missed was that though there were many elections held in West Africa during the period under review, the U.N Security Council members praised only Liberia and the Ivory Coast for the free, fair and credible elections they held. They did not praise Sierra Leone and Nigeria, especially at all. Only 2 members praised Sierra Leone for the progress made in having more women elected. It became embarrassing hearing every member praise Liberia and the Ivory Coast and none for Sierra Leone and Nigeria. This should worry President Bio and the SLPP.

Another thing that should worry President Bio and the SLPP was that though this was a briefing on Security, nobody mentioned anything about the alleged abortive coup in Sierra Leone. Since many of the problems they highlighted in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea stemmed from military coups it should have been a source of concern to the UN Security Council that a coup was attempted in Sierra Leone. At least, they would have called for action against the perpetrators of the coup, knowing the effects it would have caused for regional security. But conspicuously, nothing was mentioned about a coup attempt in Sierra Leone.

For a briefing on Security in the UN Security Council, which is responsible for international peace and security, it is very strange and the SLPP must worry about this. This will be subject to many interpretations. We will, for now, not be privy to what discussions took place in the closed door meeting later and will not speculate on that. However, we must note that for Sierra Leone to have been discussed at UN Security Council level, however briefly, it means that the situation in the country has been expedited.

Normally, the situation should have been first discussed in the UN General Assembly who would have then referred it to the Security Council. We keep our ears cocked for more information but as I rightly said in the TV interview yesterday, with the UN being neutral and non- partisan, there would be no attacks on President Bio or his government, as is diplomatic policy. I said that they would rather even be praised for the good things they have done, which was what happened.

The important thing is that with the adoption of the agenda by the UN Security Council to have all today’s matter discussed, a PROCESS has started. Now, the UN Security Council has formally received the report that all is not well in Sierra Leone and that is a significant development for those of us seeking increased international attention to the situation in Sierra Leone.