SIERRA LEONE/NIGERIA: Britain's Prince Charles expressed his solidarity with Sierra Leoneans' efforts to rebuild their war-shattered country

Record ID: 223443

  • Title: SIERRA LEONE/NIGERIA: Britain's Prince Charles expressed his solidarity with Sierra Leoneans' efforts to rebuild their war-shattered country
  • Date: 29th November 2006
  • Summary: (BN16) FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE (NOVEMBER 28, 2006) (REUTERS) METHODIST BOYS HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING SIERRA LEONE FLAG
  • Embargoed: 14th December 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Royalty
  • Reuters ID: LVA8JZ7L7YL95H1UHHW8XAXK40M
  • Story Text: Britain's Prince Charles expressed his solidarity with Sierra Leoneans' efforts to rebuild their war-shattered country on Tuesday (November 28) during his first visit to the former British colony.
    The heir to Britain's throne received an enthusiastic welcome, although some people in the poor West African state said foreign powers should do more to help rebuild their country, devastated by 11 years of civil war.
    Charles joined drummers from the national dance troupe, watched a performance about deforestation and met development workers in the steamy heat of capital Freetown, founded in the 18th century by freed slaves sent from England.
    Sierra Leone receives 40 million pounds ($78 million) a year from Britain, but still ranks as the second-least-developed country in the world, according to the United Nations.
    Its 1991-2002 civil war, fuelled by the trade in "blood diamonds" in return for arms, was notorious for the RUF rebels' mutilation of women and children.
    Charles made the trip to recognise progress made ahead of elections slated for July next year. But he acknowledged the "immense and overwhelming challenges to rebuild this country".
    Freetown's mayor, Winstanley Bankole Johnson, described the royal visit as "long overdue".
    Earlier during the Prince's last few hours in Sierra Leone the heir to the throne visited a thriving school in the capital Freetown.
    Charles, a keen gardener with his own organic holding, was given a guided tour of a large vegetable patch and piggery run as an education project for students at the Methodist Boys' School.
    Before leaving for Nigeria, the Prince flew into the interior of Sierra Leone to see how British forces are playing a leading role in training the Republic's army.
    He watched as the International Ministry Advisory and Training Team (IMATT) put Sierra Leone forces through their paces.
    The training team is made up of around 90 UK service personnel and 27 foreign colleagues.
    Wearing a linen blazer and white trousers against the hot and humid conditions, Charles strode into the rainforest where the Republic's soldiers were being taught tracking skills.
    Staff from IMATT, led by British officer Brigadier Barry Le Grys, were teaching Sierra Leone soldiers how to spot the signs that reveal someone has been sleeping on the jungle floor.
    The Prince of Wales arrived in Nigeria for a three day official visit which will take him to the ancient Islamic city of Kano and the administrative headquarter of the old northern Nigeria Kaduna.
    At the Abuja airport the prince was received by the British high commissioner in Nigeria Charles Grozney and other diplomatic officials.
    Prince Charles will meet with officers of local government authority in Kano tomorrow who will take him on a tour of local craft workers, which include pot makers and embroiderers. He will also visit local villagers who will demonstrate their craft in weaving dying and beetling of local textile.
    The last day of his trip will take him to Kaduna where he will visit the peacekeeping training wing of the infantry corps centre and school Jaji where he will be shown around stands that illustrate the training activities undertaken by the Nigeria Army with United Kingdom support.
    He will meet Nigerian soldiers and their families and some of the British and United States officers who are helping out in the training before leaving Nigeria.

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