Cablegate: Sierra Leone Embraces Extractive Industries

VZCZCXRO9595
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0403 1801327
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291327Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1177
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000403

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EMIN ECON ETRD PREL PGOV SL
SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE EMBRACES EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES
TRANSPARENCY INITIATIVE

REF: STATE 75118

1. On June 28, the GoSL launched the Sierra Leone Extractive
Industries Transparency Initiative (SLEITI) by inaugurating
its EITI National Steering Committee and establishing an EITI
Secretariat at a ceremony at the Presidential State House.

SIPDIS
Endorsing EITI at the ceremony, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
said the GoSL is committed to high standards of transparency
and accountability in public life, government operations and
in business.

2. The National Steering Committee is comprised of
representatives from the Ministries of Presidential Affairs,
Mineral Resources, Finance, Local Government and Community
Development, National Revenue Authority, Council of Paramount
Chiefs, National Commission on Environment and Forests, Civil
Society (three representatives), the Media, members of
Parliament, the Audit Department, Office of National
Security, and Chamber of Mines. The GoSL has appointed Dr.
Sheku Sesay, Minister of Presidential Affairs, as the EITI
representative.

3. The GoSL has an implementation framework in place and has
drafted a national work plan. The GoSL is also close to
finalizing a memorandum of understanding with civil society
stakeholders and the mining industry. At the GoSL's request,
the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and
the World Bank have funded a consultant to address capacity
issues necessary to move EITI implementation forward.

4. EITI appears to be gaining momentum, mostly driven by a
civil society coalition, the National Advocacy Coalition of
the Extractives (NACE), which is dedicated to promoting
greater transparency in the mining sector. NACE is receiving
support from Catholic Relief Services and Christian Aid.

5. The overall organization of the mining sector remains poor
and requires improvement and NACE advocates renegotiating
existing contracts/leases; legislation to amend existing laws
to comply with EITI; and building capacity to track
budgeting, audits and improve analyses of the mining sector.

6. The GoSL intends to submit the required documentation to
move from the candidate phase to the compliant phase as
defined in the EITI Validation Guide.
HULL

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