rediff.com: Jetley blasts Nigerian deputies in Sierra Leone: PTI

Infighting has broken out in the United Nations peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone following accusations by its Indian commander Major General Vijay K Jetley against two Nigerian deputies of sabotaging the peace process in the war-torn African country.

Jetley, in a memorandum circulated among diplomats in the Sierra Leone capital, Freetown, said mission deputy commander Gen Mohammad Garba and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's special representative Oluyemi Adeniji, both Nigerians, were profiting from the illegal diamond trade there, The Washington Post newspaper reported on Sunday.

Jetley said the Nigerian officials were undermining the UN mission in Sierra Leone as they had secret contacts with the main rebel group in the country, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).

"Adeniji and Garba believe that keeping Nigerian interests were paramount for them even if it meant scuttling the peace process," the memorandum said, adding that "the Nigerian army was interested in staying in Sierra Leone due to massive benefits from the illegal diamond mining."

Jetley also said both the officials were "working hard" to sabotage the peace process and "show Indians in general, and me in particular, in poor light."

The UNAMSIL was brought in Sierra Leone to replace a Nigerian-led West African Force that fought the RUF. But several Nigerian battalions stayed on as part of the UN mission.

Meanwhile, the head of the Nigerian army has demanded the dismissal of Jetley over the "scandalous" attack on Nigerian forces.

In an internal document shown to AFP, Lt Gen Victor Malu said Jetley had lost his "moral right" to head the mission.

Jetley "should be relieved of his appointment forthwith if the UNAMSIL is to succeed," the Nigerian chief of army staff said in a August 8 letter, marked "restricted," to Nigerian defence minister Theophilus Danjuma.


	HOME \| NEWS \| PTI \| REPORT