ABUJA, Nigeria (Angola Press) - Nigeria will deploy a battalion of troops (850 soldiers) which it pledged to contribute to the African peacekeeping initiative in Somalia by the middle of April, Army Spokesman, Col. Ayo Olaniyan, said Tuesday.
"The Nigerian government`s decision to contribute troops to the Horn of Africa peace effort is consistent with her foreign policy, which has Africa as its centre-piece," Olaniyan said in the capital city of Abuja.
"This is in keeping with with her peace engendering role in the continent and the world at large," he added.
Nigeria had pledged to contribute troops towards the African Union`s 8,000 strong peacekeeping force needed to stabilise Somalia after the routing of the Union of Islamic Courts by the Ethiopian- backed forces of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.
Olaniyan said the planned deployment would fulfil Nigeria`s pledge to contribute troops to the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
The battalion is drawn from the Army`s 231 Battalion in Biu, northern Borno State.
Olaniyan said the troops were currently being trained at the Nigerian Armed Forces Simulation Centre in Jaji, northern Kaduna State.
The Nigerian Battalion is expected to join nine other battalions from various African countries, who are billed to participate in the peacekeeping initiative.
Source: Angola Press, Feb 21, 2007
http://www.hiiraan.com/news2/2006/feb/n ... malia.aspx
More Jareer for the Hawiye
Uganda 2000 soldiers
Burundi 1,700 soldiers
Nigeria 850 soldiers
JAREER keeping hawiye in line!!!
very sad
