U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

1

99–011 2002

107th Congress, 2d Session – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 107–249

PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY 

WITH RESPECT TO SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA

MESSAGE

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

A SIX MONTH PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY 

WITH RESPECT TO SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA THAT WAS DECLARED IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 13194, OF JANUARY 18, 2001 AND 

EXPANDED IN SCOPE IN EXECUTIVE ORDER 13213, OF MAY 22, 

2001, PURSUANT TO 50 U.S.C. 1641(c) AND 50 U.S.C. 1703(c)

JULY 23, 2002.—Message and accompanying papers referred to the 

Committee on International Relations and ordered to be printed 


E:\Seals\Congress.#13
(1)

To the Congress of the United States: 

As required by section 401(c) of the National Emergencies Act, 

50 U.S.C. 1641(c), and section 204(c) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(c), I am providing 

herewith a 6-month periodic report prepared by my Administration 

on the national emergency with respect to Sierra Leone and Liberia 

that was declared in Executive Order 13194 of January 18, 2001, 

and expanded in scope in Executive Order 13213 of May 22, 2001.

GEORGE W. BUSH. 

THE WHITE HOUSE, July 22, 2002.

(3)

PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO

SIERRA LEONE AND LIBERIA

This report to the Congress covers developments over the course 

of the past 6 months concerning the national emergency declared 

in Executive Order 13194 of January 18, 2001, in response to the 

actions and policies of the insurgent Revolutionary United Front 

(‘‘RUF’’) in Sierra Leone and pursuant to which the United States 

imposed a general ban on the direct and indirect importation of all 

rough diamonds from Sierra Leone to the United States, except 

those imports controlled through the Certificate of Origin regime of 

the Government of Sierra Leone. On May 22, 2001, I issued Executive Origin 13213, which expanded the scope of that national emergency to include actions of the Government of Liberia in support 

of the RUF and prohibited the importation of all rough diamonds 

from Liberia. This report is submitted pursuant to section 204(c) of 

the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 

1703(c), and section 401(c) of the National Emergencies Act, 50 

U.S.C. 1641(c). 

1. On February 6, 2002, the Department of the Treasury’s Office 

of Foreign Assets Control (‘‘OFAC’’) issued the Rough Diamonds 

(Sierra Leone and Liberia) Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 

591 (67 Fed. Reg. 5472), as an interim rule with request for public 

comment to implement Executive Orders 13194 and 13213. A copy 

of the Regulations is attached. 

2. OFAC has disseminated details of this program to the financial and international trade communities by both electronic and 

conventional media. In the 6-month period since January 18, 2002, 

OFAC has not issued any specific licenses authorizing transactions 

otherwise prohibited by the Executive Orders and has neither assessed nor collected any civil monetary penalty for a violation of 

the Executive Orders. OFAC, in cooperation with the U.S. Customs 

Service, is closely monitoring potential violations of the general 

bans on the importation of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone 

which are not controlled through the Certificate of Origin regime 

and of all rough diamonds from Liberia. 

3. The expenses incurred by the Federal Government in the 6-

month period from January 18, through July 17, 2002, that are directly attributable to the exercise of powers and authorities conferred by the declaration of a national emergency with respect to 

Sierra Leone and Liberia, are reported to be approximately 

$65,000, most of which represent wage and salary costs for Federal 

personnel. Personnel costs were largely centered in the Department 

of the Treasury (particularly in the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Customs Service, the Office of the Under Secretary 

for Enforcement, and the Office of the General Counsel), the Department of State, and the Department of Commerce. 

4

4. For the first time in more than a decade, Sierra Leone is at 

peace. More than 46,000 RUF rebels and members of a pro-government militia organization have disarmed. Multi-party elections 

were conducted peacefully on May 14, 2002. The United Nations 

Mission in Sierra Leone, the world’s largest U.N. peacekeeping 

force, continues to assist the Sierra Leone army to provide internal 

security. The Sierra Leone military are deployed to all vital locations and are securing the country’s borders, with heavy British 

guidance and support. The police have a presence in all provincial 

capitals. Government authority and services are being extended, albeit slowly, throughout the country. 

Though there has been improvement, a significant portion of the 

mining and trading of diamonds remains outside Sierra Leonean 

government control. Liberian President Charles Taylor, who supported and sustained the RUF during its long campaign of terror 

in Sierra Leone, remains defiant of UN Security Council sanctions. 

He continues to trade in illicit diamonds smuggled from Sierra 

Leone, smuggle illegal arms, support RUF elements within Liberia, 

and pose a threat to the security and fragile stability of Sierra 

Leone. In June 2002, Liberian troops crossed into Sierra Leone to 

attack border villages. Until the threat to Sierra Leone from 

Charles Taylor is eliminated, and the mining of Sierra Leonean 

diamonds is brought under control, the threat to U.S. foreign policy 

remains and Executive Orders 13194 and 13213 will remain in effect.

5


Insert offset folio 6 here HD249.001
6


Insert offset folio 7 here HD249.002
7


Insert offset folio 8 here HD249.003
8


Insert offset folio 9 here HD249.004
9


Insert offset folio 10 here HD249.005
10


Insert offset folio 11 here HD249.006