Atrocities, Diamonds and Diplomacy Read online

  Dedicated to Celia

  and to the people of Sierra Leone

  First published in Great Britain in 2012 by

  Pen & Sword Military

  an imprint of

  Pen & Sword Books Ltd

  47 Church Street

  Barnsley

  South Yorkshire

  S70 2AS

  Copyright © Peter Penfold 2012

  9781781593981

  Trade Paperback ISBN: 978 1 78159 105 5

  The right of Peter Penfold to be identified as author of this work has

  been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and

  Patents Act 1988.

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  Atrocities

  ‘Behaviour or actions that are wicked or ruthless.’

  Concise English Dictionary

  Diamonds

  ‘Conflict diamonds (sometimes called blood diamonds) are diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the Security Council.’

  United Nations definition

  Diplomacy

  ‘The application of intelligence and tact to the conduct of official relations between the governments of independent states.’

  Satow’s Guide to Diplomatic Practice

  ‘A diplomat is someone who can tell a person to “go to hell” and that person is looking forward to the trip!’

  Anon

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Atrocities

  Foreword

  Sierra Leone – A Brief History

  Author’s Note

  Prologue

  Chapter One - Welcome to Freetown – 1997

  Chapter Two - Coup and Evacuation

  Chapter Three - Living in Conakry

  Chapter Four - Contacts with Sandline

  Chapter Five - President Kabbah Restored – 1998

  Chapter Six - Arms to Africa Scandal

  Chapter Seven - Treason Trials and Executions

  Chapter Eight - Rebel Advances – 1999

  Chapter Nine - Atrocities

  Chapter Ten - The Lomé Peace Agreement

  Chapter Eleven - No More Guns, No More Killing

  Chapter Twelve - Farewell Sierra Leone – 2000

  Chapter Thirteen - British Forces and Blood Diamonds

  Chapter Fourteen - Di Wor Don Don – 2001

  Epilogue

  Glossary

  Bibliography

  Index

  Foreword

  I have learnt a few things in my forty or so years as an operational soldier. One is that rarely do the experts, the pundits, the bureaucrats and the politicians in Western capitals understand the true nature of a crisis in some far away country as well as the diplomat, soldier and expat who are actually based there. It is only the latter who breathe the same often fearful air as those whose lives are at stake, or meet and thus better understand the leaders, good and bad, competing for power. Soldiers call it ‘smelling the cordite,’ the necessary precursor to success in battle. If ever this home-spun philosophy held true, as it does, it is in the compelling story of one man’s resolute struggle to do the right thing by the benighted, trusting and hugely deserving people of Sierra Leone.

  That man is Peter Penfold CMG, a brave and determined British diplomat of the old school. A little headstrong perhaps, but someone who – as we soldiers might say in admiration – one would ‘happily go to war with.’ His book is a spellbinding account of greed, frustration, intrigue, violence, incompetence and missed opportunity before slowly becoming a story of fresh hope. Peter kindly credits me and some others with helping restore stability in Sierra Leone. We played a role but nothing we did would have been possible without the foundations laid by this remarkable man over three dangerous and difficult years. At the time, to his embarrassment, the people of Sierra Leone almost deified him. To this day he excites there a loyalty, respect and affection that must today be almost unique in its intensity. Yet in the UK he had to retire early and without any of the honours that his forebears would surely have been accorded.

  Peter Penfold served as the British High Commissioner in Sierra Leone during a critical period in its turbulent history. He was a key figure in all that went on. Dealing directly with the government and the rebels and witnessing the terrible atrocities heaped upon the Sierra Leone people, as one reads this book his single-minded commitment to this poor West African country becomes increasingly apparent. His actions were in the finest traditions of the British Diplomatic Service, even if at times his masters in the UK did not fully appreciate what he was doing.

  Assisted by a very small team of British soldiers and diplomats, Penfold’s attempts after a coup in 1997 to bring an early resolution to the conflict very nearly succeeded. If he had been allowed to do as he had hoped, perhaps much of the next few years’ bloodshed would have been avoided. As it was, much to his credit, the successful evacuations and the emergency humanitarian activities in which he played a central role undoubtedly saved many lives. He gave hope to a traumatised population. The Sierra Leone people demonstrated their thanks by making him a paramount chief, the only other non Sierra Leoneans to be given such an honour being The Queen and Prince Philip.

  British forces can be rightly proud of what they did to help bring an end to one of Africa’s bloodiest conflicts. Operations Palliser and Barrass, with which I was intimately involved, have become benchmarks for successful British military action overseas. But I have always been clear that it was Peter Penfold who set the conditions for our success. His selfless leadership and transparent devotion to the people of Sierra Leone in the three years leading up to our decisive intervention in May 2000 meant we enjoyed the instinctive support of the Sierra Leone Government and the vast majority of the Sierra Leone people. His very personal and informative account of that period reveals some of the intriguing background to our deployment.

  The end of the Sierra Leone conflict came after much suffering, at least some of which might have been avoided if different decisions had been taken. Peter Penfold can justifiably be accused of mishandling Whitehall. But as the reader puts down this captivating and most readable of books, few will not be thinking that Whitehall also mishandled this intelligent and experienced dip
lomat with his huge feel for what was happening on the ground and what perhaps might just work best.

  General Sir David Richards

  February 2012

  Sierra Leone – A Brief History

  With a land mass of 28,000 square miles (roughly the size of Ireland), and a population of around six million, Sierra Leone lies on the West Coast of Africa, between Guinea and Liberia. This beautiful, English-speaking country, rich in agriculture, fishing and minerals (diamonds, gold, bauxite and rutile), derives its name from the Portuguese for ‘Lion Mountain Range’, given by early Portuguese explorers.

  The history of modern Sierra Leone dates from 1787, when British abolitionists of the slave trade purchased from a local chief named Naimbana a strip of land on the peninsula and settled on it 400 freed slaves, calling the settlement Freetown. When Britain outlawed slave trading in 1807 a naval station was established in the natural harbour of Freetown, and slaves freed in naval operations by the ships stationed there were brought back to the settlement, many originally from Jamaica and Nova Scotia. In 1808 Freetown became a British colony and the hinterland a British protectorate from where the colonies of The Gambia and the Gold Coast (now Ghana) were also originally governed.

  Sierra Leone peacefully attained independence as a member of the Commonwealth on 27 April 1961, with Her Majesty The Queen as head of state. Sir Milton Margai, of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), became the country’s first prime minister. Disputed elections in 1967 led to two military coups and in 1968, Dr Siaka Stevens, of the All People’s Congress (APC), became Prime Minister. Following an abortive coup in 1971, Sierra Leone became a republic, with Dr Stevens as President. Constitutional changes were enacted in 1978, making it a one-party (APC) state. Despite various coup attempts, Dr Stevens remained in power until 1986, when he handed over to his nominated successor, Major General Joseph Momoh. In 1992 Momoh was deposed in a military coup by a group of young army officers led by Captain Valentine Strasser, who formed the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC). Shortly before elections to return to a civilian government in 1996, Strasser was removed in a palace coup by his deputy, Julius Maada Bio. The following elections saw the appointment of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of the SLPP as President, who remained President throughout most of the events of this book. The SLPP was defeated in elections in August 2007 by the APC, and Ernest Koroma became President.

  Chronology

  1462 Coastline sighted by Portuguese, named Serra Lyoa (Lion Range).

  1787 400 freed slaves settle in Freetown.

  1807 Britain bans slave trade.

  1808 Freetown declared a British Crown Colony.

  1896 Britain declares Sierra Leone hinterland a protectorate.

  1961 27 April Sierra Leone attains independence.

  1971 President Siaka Stevens declares Sierra Leone a republic.

  1991 Revolutionary United Front (RUF) commences hostilities.

  1992 President Momoh overthrown in military coup by NPRC.

  1995 NPRC signs agreement with Executive Outcomes.

  1996 February NPRC steps down and democratic elections bring in SLPP government under President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

  November Abidjan Peace Accord signed with RUF.

  1997 March Peter Penfold takes up post as British High Commissioner.

  25 May Armed Forces Revolution Council (AFRC) coup under Johnny Paul Koroma, joined by RUF, Kabbah flees to Conakry.

  May/June Evacuations of international community.

  August Ecowas imposes sanctions on Sierra Leone.

  October United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 1132 imposing arms embargo.

  President Kabbah attends Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) as guest of Tony Blair.

  Conakry Peace Plan.

  1998 Jan/Feb Economic Community of West African States, Minority Group (Ecomog) forces push AFRC/RUF out of Freetown.

  March President Kabbah returns.

  HMS Cornwall assists British relief effort.

  May Sandline/Arms to Africa Scandal – HM Customs investigation.

  After case is dropped, Robin Cook sets up Legg Inquiry.

  June Penfold made Paramount Chief in Sierra Leone.

  July Legg report presented to House of Commons.

  Sept/Oct Treason trials and executions in Freetown.

  November Foreign Affairs Select Committee inquiry.

  December Further evacuation from Freetown.

  1999 6 January Rebels re-invade Freetown, committing mass atrocities.

  Jan/Feb Ecomog, assisted by Civil Defence Force (CDF), regain Freetown and push rebels back.

  June Human Rights Watch publishes report on atrocities.

  July Lomé Peace Agreement.

  October ‘Vice-President’ Foday Sankoh and Johnny Paul Koroma return.

  2000 March Ecomog starts withdrawal as UN begins deployment. General Khobe taken ill, later dies.

  April Peter Penfold leaves at end of tour.

  May RUF launch attacks around the country.

  Fighting around Sankoh’s house in Freetown.

  New British High Commissioner, Alan Jones, arrives.

  Robin Cook orders evacuation of British community.

  British troops deployed to assist evacuation – Operation Palliser.

  June British military training team arrives to train new Sierra Leone army.

  July UN Security Council Resolution bans sale of ‘blood diamonds’.

  August Soldiers of Royal Irish Regiment taken hostage by ‘West Side Boys’.

  September British forces, led by Special Air Service (SAS), secure release of hostages – Operation Barras.

  2001 January Abuja Ceasefire.

  2002 January Agreement to establish Sierra Leone Special Court.

  February President Kabbah declares the war is over.

  May Kabbah and SLPP re-elected.

  2003 March Indictments issued against Sankoh, Koroma, Norman and others by Sierre Leone Special Court (SLSC) for war crimes. June Indictment issued.

  June Indictment issued against Charles Taylor.

  July Foday Sankoh dies in detention.

  2005 UN Forces withdrawn.

  August Robin Cook dies whilst hill walking.

  2006 February Testimonies before Special Court on behalf of Sam Norman.

  April Taylor appears before SLSC in Freetown and later in The Hague.

  2007 February Sam Norman dies in detention following operation.

  August SLPP led by Berewa defeated in elections by Ernest Koroma and APC.

  Author’s Note

  Autobiography, if there really is such a thing, is like asking a rabbit to tell us what he looks like hopping through the grasses of the field. How would he know? If we want to hear about the field, on the other hand, no one is in a better circumstance to tell us – so long as we keep in mind that we are missing all those things the rabbit was in no position to observe.

  Extract from Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden

  This book is an account of my time as the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone from 1997 to 2000 and the years that followed – very eventful, dramatic and traumatic times for the country and its people, and for me. It is written from a personal standpoint, mainly using notes written soon after my departure from Sierra Leone, though like the rabbit above, it is hardly an autobiography, and certainly not a complete account of all that went on in Sierra Leone, nor Britain.

  Over a decade on, it relates a seemingly bygone time in British foreign policy when there was more space for diplomacy overseas before the troops were sent in. However, I trust that you will find it interesting and informative. If it leaves you feeling a sense of admiration and commitment for the people of Sierra Leone, or even a little better informed about diplomatic life in far-flung corners of the world, then I will have achieved what I set out to do in writing this book.

  I am indebted to my publishers Pen & Sword, particularly Brigadier Henry Wilson and Linne Matthews, for their
support, and I acknowledge the help from many friends, but especially my godson, Jack Latham, with the collection of photographs and illustrations. Finally, I am most grateful to General Sir David Richards for writing the foreword to the book.

  Peter Penfold

  Abingdon, Oxfordshire

  July 2011

  Prologue

  ‘So you knew that the Sandline contract with President Kabbah included the provision of arms and ammunition?’ The question was directed to me from across the narrow table by one of the Customs and Excise investigators. Next to him sat his colleague eyeing me carefully. Next to me sat my solicitor. A tape recorder was on the table between us in the small windowless room. We were in an interview cell in the basement of Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise headquarters, close to the Tower of London, and I was being interviewed ‘under caution’, which meant that anything I said could lead to me being prosecuted for a crime, which in this case carried a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment. What on earth was going on?

  Just a month previously I had been part of a colourful cavalcade driving through the sunny streets of Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone, lined with thousands of waving and cheering Sierra Leoneans, celebrating the return of their president. The people were demonstrating their joy at the return of their legitimate, democratically elected government, after ten months of misery and hardship. As I passed in the British High Commission Land Rover with the Union Jack flying, they chanted ‘Pen-fold, Pen-fold’ in recognition of the role that Britain and I had played in securing this success. We made our way through the crowded streets to the National Stadium, filled to capacity with Sierra Leoneans who had been waiting patiently in the hot sun to see their president, Tejan Kabbah, and also General Sani Abacha, the Nigerian leader whose forces had made this day possible.