Monday, May 14, 2012

Nigerian Troops To Be Deployed In Guinea-Bissau and Mali

Nigerian troops for Guinea Bissau, Mali

By Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja
Nigerian Nation

Nigeria will deploy troops in the West African country of Guinea Bissau on or before May 18 as part of its commitment to restoring constitutional order in that country, Minister of Defence Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed said yesterday.

But he did not give details of the deployment, the other countries involved and the duration of the operation.

Mohammed spoke at the 30th Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja and at the Presidential Villa when he accompanied the military chiefs on a visit to President Goodluck Jonathan.

“You know our sub-region is faced with challenges of insecurity and also instability in some of the countries. The CDS are here to discuss how the intervention of ECOWAS will help to bring security and to stabilise the country where instability is rearing its head. This is on the instruction of the Head of States of the ECOWAS.

“On Guinea Bissau, a decision is already made that a military contingent from the ECOWAS will be sent to assist the government in maintaining law and order. Nigeria, as a leading member of ECOWAS, will participate when invited

Mohammed said that the troops for Mali, which is in a political turmoil, are also ready, but that the country is awaiting signal from the ECOWAS for its deployment.

The minister restated Nigeria’s commitment to the restoration of peace and order in those countries, as well as the promotion of socio-economic and political development of the region.

He said internal conflicts in some member states within the region was affecting its desire to achieve political and economic development.

“The situation in Mali and Guinea Bissau is giving the region cause for concern in its quest for long-term survival of democracy.

“Apart from this, the situation in Mali, especially the rebellion in the Northern part of the country, portends grave danger to our sub-region due to the assemblage of desperate armed groups.”

He said the group’s outreach extended far beyond the sub-region, adding that “if not decisively tackled, the development could destabilise the entire region”.

Mohammed also urged the chiefs of defence staff to address threats in the Sahel region and the Gulf of Guinea, which he described as the gateways to the socio-economic development of the region.

“You must not relent in your efforts to ensure that the threats in these areas are decisively dealt with in order to provide a secured environment for our collective development,” he said.

Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, described the development in Mali and Guinea Bissau in the last two months as hectic.

Petinrin said the development had given the military in the region cause for concern in the role they were expected to play in defence of democratic governance and constitutional order.

He pledged the military’s zero-tolerance to the unconditional takeover of government in any part of the region.

Air Chief Marshall Petinrrin said:“Right now, we have Constitutional order, the two countries are no longer been headed by military people because they were told in certain terms that it will not be accepted and they have stepped down in both countries,’’

“The challenges that fate has entrusted on the sub-region are enormous but not insurmountable, and we cannot afford to fail.

“I believe that we, as a body, are in a good position to assist our governments to proffer workable solutions to our common problems so that they can provide for our people an environment that is conducive.’’

He urged the member states to fulfil their pledges of personnel and equipment deployment to Mali and Guinea Bissau, to restore peace and order in those countries.

Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of ECOWAS Mrs Salamat Suleiman, said there was urgent need for member countries to deploy troops to Guinea Bissau.

She said that deploying troops to Guinea Bissau would facilitate the withdrawal of Angolan troops from that country.

According to Suleiman, the Angolan troops are scheduled to leave Guinea Bissau on May 20

President Jonathan challenged ECOWAS Defence Chiefs to ensure security in the sub-region. He commended them for their role in ensuring the current relative stability in the sub-region and enjoined them not to relent.

“Though there are challenges in some areas, the stability of countries in the ECOWAS sub-region is commendable. We have progressed significantly compared with where we were 20 years ago,” the President said, adding that “we have to continue to ensure peace, security and stability.”President Jonathan who noted that the entire sub-region has embraced democratic governance, expressed appreciation to the military chiefs for joining hands with civilian authorities to address the challenges in a few countries such as Mali and Guinea Bissau.

He implored the defence chiefs to talk to their colleagues in these countries “to embrace democratic governance.”The President expressed optimism that with the support and cooperation of the defence chiefs, “we would collectively resolve the issues in Guinea Bissau and Mali.”The President pledged the continued support of the Nigerian Government to enable the military leaders to succeed, hoping that at the end of their meeting, they would have come up with resolutions that would further guarantee peace and stability in the West African sub-region.

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