The Nigerian Army has sent 86 soldiers to the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau. This move shows Nigeria's commitment to peace and security in the region. Nigeria has a long history of joining peace missions across West Africa.
In a statement on Saturday, the army shared that the troops, known as Nigerian Company 5 (NIGCOY 5 ESSMGB), left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on a Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft. They arrived safely in Guinea-Bissau to start their work under the ECOWAS mandate.
Before leaving the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Forward Operating Base in Abuja, the army’s Chief of Operations, Major General Mayirenso Saraso, urged the troops to uphold high standards of professionalism and discipline. He reminded them to strive for operational excellence during the mission.
Major General Saraso was represented by Brigadier General MM Idris, the Director of Peace Support Operations. He encouraged the soldiers to act as good representatives of the army, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the country. He emphasized the importance of carrying out their duties properly, respecting the laws of Guinea-Bissau, and avoiding any form of abuse or misconduct.
The army highlighted that this deployment shows Nigeria's ongoing commitment to stability in the region. Nigeria has been a leader in ECOWAS peace support missions.
The army also mentioned that Nigeria is one of Africa's top contributors to peacekeeping efforts. It has a long history of serving in missions organized by ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations.
This latest troop deployment indicates Nigeria's key role in preventing conflicts and promoting peace across Africa. The professionalism and resilience of Nigerian peacekeepers are recognized.
The ESSMGB was set up to support security reforms and maintain political stability in Guinea-Bissau. This follows years of political unrest and military takeovers in the country.
The mission replaces the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB), which was active after the 2012 coup. It is part of ECOWAS's efforts to stop instability from growing into bigger security issues in the region.
Nigeria has been one of the biggest troop providers for ECOWAS missions. It has offered soldiers, logistics, and leadership for missions in countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau.
This new deployment comes at a time when ECOWAS is facing serious security and political problems in West Africa. This includes military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, along with ongoing jihadist violence in the Sahel region.
Guinea-Bissau has mostly avoided the severe violence seen in other parts of the region. Still, ECOWAS keeps a stabilisation force in place to support constitutional order and prevent any potential security issues.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇