Written question asked by Mark Simmonds (Conservative) on Monday, 15 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 November 2004. It was answered by Chris Mullin (Labour) on Thursday, 18 November 2004 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate has been made of the number of redundant fighters in (a) Sierra Leone and (b) Liberia; what assessment has been made of the possibility that these fighters may travel to the Ivory Coast to fight there; and what steps the Government has taken to facilitate alternative employment for soldiers in (i) Liberia and (ii) Sierra Leone. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate has been made of the number of redundant fighters in (a) Sierra Leone and (b) Liberia; what assessment has been made of the possibility that these fighters may travel to the Ivory Coast to fight there; and what steps the Government have taken to facilitate alternative employment for soldiers in (i) Liberia and (ii) Sierra Leone. [199037] Mr. Mullin: Estimates of numbers of ex-combatants in the region vary. However, 72,000 people in Sierra Leone, and 95,000 in Liberia, have participated in disarmament, demobilisation programmes. We remain concerned about the possibility of fighters moving to different conflicts; we have supported rehabilitation and reintegration programmes in both countries. I shall be visiting Sierra Leone and Liberia later this month to see the situation for myself.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 199037; 426 c1789-90W;426 c1793-4W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Armed forces Decommissioning Armed conflict Weapons Sierra Leone Liberia Côte d'Ivoire Veterans
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk