VZCZCXRO9631
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0404 1801356
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 291356Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1178
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

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.