Appendix D - Movement of Concerned Kono Youth (MOCKY)

Summary

The hand written document (prepared by Aiah A.Y. Aroana, Secretary General on 19 April 2003) reproduced below explains the background and the aims and objectives of the movement:

‘The Movement of Concerned Kono Youth known as MOCKY came into being in Freetown in November 1999. It was formed by disgruntled Kono youths who were then resident in Freetown as a result of the occupation of Kono district by the combined RUF and AFRC junta forces in February 1998. Secondly, the general status quo of the entire Kono displaced population within and outside Freetown was rather different from those from the Southern, Northern and some parts of the Eastern provinces and, virtually there was nobody to talk on behalf of the district, not even its people to tell [the] powers that be.

Above all, neglect and marginalisation was another factor that precipitated the formation of MOCKY. From its inception in November 1999 to December 2001, all the issues or problems affecting Kono people in Freetown and outside Freetown were championed by the organisation. The organisation (MOCKY) gained legal recognition (registered) with the government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Youths, Education and Sports on 23rd December 1999. Upon receipt of the certificate of registration from the Ministry, MOCKY there and then took up an agitation campaign to adequately inform the government of Sierra Leone and the international community about the plight of the Kono people. […]