FEDERAL GOVT ORDERS WITHDRAWAL OF NIGERIAN TROOPS FROM MALI

Troops and M2 HMG-armed Landcruiser gun-trucks of the Nigerian Army at Banamba

THE GUARDIAN
17 July, 2013

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the withdrawal of the country?s troops from the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali
(MINUSMA). MINUSMA took over from
the African International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) under which
Nigeria deployed in February this year.

This is the first time in the history of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations that Nigeria is unilaterally
withdrawing own troops over
disagreement with the way mission
operational headquarters is staffed. In February this year, Nigeria deployed a
total of 1,200 troops for the AFISMA
operation, comprising a Nigerian Army
battalion plus strength of 900 troops
and Nigerian Air Force strength of 300
troops. In addition, a Signal Squadron of 61 personnel was deployed.

The Air Force also deployed two Dassault-Breguet Dornier Alpha fighter jets and
two Mi-35 Helicopters for the Malian
operation. In addition, the Nigerian Contingent Air Component has deployed the C-130 transport Hercules and the medium carrier, the G222 for the operation. It however lost one of the Alpha jets and two pilots in the Malian operation.

Director of Defence Information, Brig
Gen Chris Olukolade, who refused to
comment on the ordered withdrawal of
troops, told The Guardian that ?we will
let Nigerians know if we are withdrawing from Mali. And we shall follow all diplomatic and other
procedures if and when we are pulling
out.??

However, a source said that President
Jonathan ordered Nigeria?s withdrawal
in protest against ?ill treatment of own
troops and non recognition of the roles
it has been playing in the search for
global peace. Nigeria was shabbily treated despite its role in efforts to
stabilise the situation in Mali. The
President has no choice but to order
that the troops be withdrawn. The
modalities for the withdrawal are now
being worked out now. Look, left to the military, Nigerian troops would have
been home by now. But our diplomats
are sorting out the procedural issues
involved. Otherwise, we are out.?

Last month, UN Secretary General UN,
Ban Kin Moon announced the
appointment of Maj. Gen. Jean Bosco
Kazura of Rwanda as the new Force
Commander of MINUSMA, sidelining
Nigeria?s Major General Shehu Abdulkadir who was the force commander of AFISMA from inception
in January 2013. Despite being the fourth largest troop contributing country under the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, no Nigerian has any appointment as the Force Commander in any of the UN peace keeping missions.

The UN currently has 15 peacekeeping
operations and one special political
mission ? the United Nations Assistance
Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

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BEEG EAGLE -perspectives of an opinionated Nigerian male with a keen interest in Geopolitics, Defence and Strategic Studies

Source: http://beegeagle.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/federal-govt-orders-withdrawal-of-nigerian-troops-from-mali/

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