- Title: NIGERIA: West African countries to deploy troops to Guinea-Bissau and Mali
- Date: 15th May 2012
- Summary: ABUJA, NIGERIA (MAY 14, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS AND MILITARY CHIEFS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SALAMATU SULAIMAN, COMMISSIONER FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS, PEACE AND SECURITY, THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS) SAYING: "But as we are all aware, there is an urgent need to quickly deploy to Guinea Bissau to facilitate the withdrawal of the Angolan troops scheduled to exit from May 20th 2012. In the light of this requirement, it is hoped that the member states who have agreed and pledged and are earmarked for deploying their troops to Guinea Bissau will complete arrangements for airlift to be completed soonest. To fast-track this deployment, an advance of one month budget for the mission has been approved from ECOWAS resources to support member states." VARIOUS OF MILITARY OFFICERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SALAMATU SULAIMAN; COMMISSIONER FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS PEACE AND SECURITY, ECOWAS SAYING: "While we are awaiting Mali's formal request for ECOWAS intervention, we also note that the 1999 protocol on the mechanism for conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security authorises ECOWAS intervention under Article 25c (in a situation where a conflict threatens the security of the entire sub-region). Based on the fore-going and in anticipation of a future deployment to Mali. At this meeting, we would be required to review our plans and confirm member states pledges for the ECOWAS mission to Mali." GUINEAN MILITARY REPRESENTATIVES NIGERIA'S DEFENCE MINISTER AND MINISTER OF STATE MILITARY OFFICERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIA'S DEFENCE MINISTER; DR BELLO HALIRU. SAYING: "I would like to announce to you that the pledges made by Nigeria for the Guinea Bissau and Mali missions; we are committed to them and our troops are already ready... in Guinea Bissau, we will deploy before the 18th of this month. That is just in a few days from today and in Mali, we await the signals from ECOWAS. We have all our forces and equipment ready for airlift." VARIOUS OF MILITARY OFFICERS CONFERENCE VENUE
- Embargoed: 30th May 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAF0LC1U9KOCX6ZTL8VUSGYO56L
- Story Text: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Monday (May14) said it was ready to deploy troops into troubled Guinea-Bissau and Mali to resolve the prevailing crisis in those countries, regional security chiefs said.
The security chiefs and experts from the 15-nation bloc were meeting in the capital Abuja to worlk out details and co-ordinate preparations for the deployment.
They said ECOWAS will start deploying troops to Guinea-Bissau by Friday to oversee reform of the local army and a transition to civilian rule after an April 12 military coup.
"There is an urgent need to quickly deploy to Guinea Bissau to facilitate the withdrawal of the Angolan troops scheduled to exit from May 20th 2012. In the light of this requirements, it is hoped that the member states who have agreed and pledged and are earmarked for deploying their troops to Guinea Bissau will complete arrangements for airlift to be completed soonest. To fast-track this deployment, an advance of one month budget for the mission has been approved from ECOWAS resources to support member states," said Salamatu Suleiman, commissioner Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ECOWAS.
ECOWAS is also looking to send 3,000- strong military force to Mali, but the deployment hinges partly on ending the political stand-off in the capital Bamako.
The coup leaders in Mali (CNRDRE) group last week resisted a call by ECOWAS to extend the mandate of the caretaker president which is due to expire in a weeks time.
"While we are awaiting Mali's formal request for ECOWAS intervention, we also note that the 1999 protocol on the mechanism for conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacekeeping and security authorises ECOWAS intervention under Article 25c (in a situation where a conflict threatens the security of the entire sub-region). Based on the fore-going and in anticipation of a future deployment to Mali. At this meeting, we would be required to review our plans and confirm member states pledges for the ECOWAS mission to Mali," said Sulaiman.
Nigeria which has played a major role in peace-keeping in most of the conflicts in West Africa said it's troops were ready to deploy.
Bello Haliru, Nigeria's minister for Defence said Nigeria would continue to play a leading role in bringing peace and stability to the region.
"I would like to announce to you that the pledges made by Nigeria for the Guinea Bissau and Mali missions; we are committed to them and our troops are already ready... in Guinea Bissau, we will deploy before the 18th of this month. That is just in a few days from today and in Mali, we await the signals from ECOWAS. We have all our forces and equipment ready for airlift," said Haliru.
Mali's neighbours have already imposed foreign asset freezes and travel bans after the power grab but they were lifted after junta chief Captain Amadou Sanogo last month formally stood down to allow Dioncounda Traore to take over as interim leader.
ECOWAS threatened on Monday to impose new sanctions on Mali's coup leaders and their allies, accusing them of blocking a return to civilian rule and further destabilising the divided nation. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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