Overview

The end of apartheid heralded a period of renaissance in Africa. The era in the 1990s saw to some African sub-regional and regional bodies suddenly becoming active in tackling the continent's '' security problems, chief of which had been intra-state wars. This effort was made manifest in West Africa more than anywhere else in Africa and spearheading the renaissance drive had been Nigeria using her adroit army. In recognition of this effort, the US Government authorized OPERATION FOCUS RELIEF, under which some Nigerian Army units were trained and equipped to strengthen a beleaguered UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). Before this time, a strong rebel network had entrenched itself in the Mano River Region; Their activity, which started in Liberia soon spilled over to Sierra Leone and was threatening other countries in the sub-region. In an attempt to restore order, a strong sub-regional force under the aegis of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) moved in, calmed the rebel war in Liberia, and organized successful elections there. Thereafter, they moved into Sierra Leone to do the same. However, dearth of logistics, among other factors, hamstrung the ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). Using the security platform already provided by ECOMOG, the UN came in to save the situation in response to international outcry as a result of rising casualties. As one of the units trained under the US OPERATION FOCUS RELIEF, 26 Battalion Nigerian Army, designated NIBATT 7 UNAMSIL, arrived in Sierra Leone when the UN mission was facing a bleak future. The arrival of NIBATT 7 however brought the much-required thrust to the mission and helped UNAMSIL facilitate its programs in the difficult areas of rebel strongholds. Although many other nations participated in the mission, UNAMSIL operations were arguably heavily dependent on Nigerians both at the leadership level and in the field locations. After organizing elections and Sierra Leone was returning to normalcy, UNAMSIL drew down its forces and eventually pulled out with a record of being one of the most successful UN missions in the world. But precedence has shown that Nigeria's ' costly efforts in tackling security problems in the sub-region are always too quickly forgotten. This book would perhaps help to establish some truth about how peace was restored in Sierra Leone.

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