Dublin Fianna Fáil MEP Eoin Ryan has been appointed by the European Parliament as one of seven observers at the presidential and parliamentary elections in Sierra Leone, which take place on Saturday.
"Sierra Leone is a country that is still trying to rebuild itself after the vicious civil war that took place there between 1996 and 2002. But this process is not an easy one and a complex post-conflict situation exists," Mr Ryan said yesterday.
He said a special court was established in Sierra Leone in 2000, under the auspices of the United Nations, to investigate and prosecute human rights abuses that took place during the war.
The trial of Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, began in June at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for crimes he committed during the civil war.
"The European Union must keep to the forefront in helping to address the economic and social problems in Sierra Leone at present. It is contributing €200 million to Sierra Leone under the European Development Fund during the years 2007 to 2013," said Mr Ryan.
"This money will be spent on rebuilding roads in rural parts of Sierra Leone, help to strengthen the structures of the public sector, promote good governance and democracy, and support the health services in Sierra Leone."
Presidential elections took place in Sierra Leone in 2002. Since then, efforts have been made to bring about reform in public services and promote economic growth, but progress has been slow.
An Irish Aid development co-operation office opened in Freetown in 2005. The State's aid budget for Sierra Leone is €8 million this year.
