The Security Council voted unanimously to wrap up the U.N. peace building mission in Sierra Leone in September 2008, praising this year's peaceful and democratic elections in the west African nation and efforts to professionalize its armed forces. A U.N. peacekeeping force helped put Sierra Leone back on the path to stability after a bloody 11-year civil war, which lasted from 1991 to 2002. But poverty continues to plague the country, which has one of the world's lowest life expectancy and literacy rates, according to a report of the Associated Press. The peacekeeping force was replaced in January 2006 by a small peace building mission of about 350 people _ mainly civilians _ along with 14 military observers and 26 international police. The resolution adopted unanimously Friday by the council extends the mandate of the peace building mission until Sept. 30, well beyond local elections scheduled for June 21. It calls for a staff reduction of at least 20 percent by March 31, the continuation of the mission at 80 percent of the current strength until June 30, and the termination of its mandate by Sept. 30. The council said the mission should be replaced by a URN. political office «to focus on carrying forward the peace building process, mobilizing international donor support,» promoting national reconciliation and constitutional reform, and supporting the work of the U.N. Peace building Commission.
