[allAfrica.com]  [allAfrica.com_Business_Page]


The Military in Post-War Sierra Leone

Concord Times (Freetown)
ANALYSIS
August 4, 2004
Posted to the web August 4, 2004

By Chernoh Alpha M. Bah And Saidu Jalloh
Freetown
Introduction
The decade old rebel war in Sierra Leone may have created a negative impact on
the once cordial and effective relationship between the Sierra Leone Army and
the civilian population, which they swore to protect.
By the middle of the 1990s when the RUF rebellion approached its climax, the
trust of the civilians on the military was sharply declining. The oppressive
and brutal character of the then military government of captain V.E.M. Strasser
coupled with the harassments of civilians by military personnel and their
inability to quell the rebellion resulted in a complete loss of confidence on
the capability of the SLA to defend and protect the sovereignty of the state
and the people from the heinous activities of the RUF rebellion.
This situation may have triggered or engineered the formation of several
splinter civil defense groups during the height of the conflict to complement
the efforts of the Army and/or protect their own communities from the
destructive attacks of the rebels. The pro-government Kamajor militia is one of
those groups that were established for such purpose(s).
This development did not augur well between the Army and the Civil Defense
Force. There were repeated controversies and acrimony between the two groups
with each accusing the other of subverting its own good works and intentions.
In some areas, this resulted in open confrontations thereby leading civilians
to question the credibility of the Army in defending the sovereignty of the
state. Many civilians even accused the soldiers of collaborating with the RUF.
In consequence, some areas disfavored having soldiers deployed in them.
Moyamba is among the towns that rejected the deployment or maybe demanded the
withdrawal of the SLA from the area sometime in 1995. Since then, no military
deployment was evident in Moyamba until the arrival and subsequent deployment
of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). The defense and
security of Moyamba was totally under the control of the Kamajor Civil Defense
Force. It should also be remembered that before this time - precisely in 1998-
President Kabbah, after his reinstatement to power, disbanded the entire Sierra
Leone Army because of their involvement in toppling his government and also
collaborating with RUF rebels in governing the country. This left the country
with virtually no military force as the Army joined the RUF in a jungle warfare
against the Kabbah government.
However, with the advent of peace and the restoration of normalcy after a
decade of bloody violence, the issue of restructuring and reorganizing the
country's Army in order to equip it to takeover the security and defense of the
country after the United Nations Mission would have packed out, became a
preoccupation of the government and its international partners.
The British government through the UK Department for International Development
commissioned an International Military Advisory Training Team to takeover the
task of restructuring, retraining and equip the new Republic of Sierra Leone
Armed Forces (RSLAF). IMATT has undertaken series of training programmes geared
towards enhancing professionalism within the Force and also fostering its
loyalty to government and people of the country. Much improvement has been made
in strengthening the shaky relationship between the military and the civilian
population, who still remain skeptical of the military's commitment to peace
and stability in the country.
Conversely, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces having realized its own
role in the post-war reconstruction and development exercise in the country,
have embarked on numerous development projects and programmes in contribution
to national growth and expansion. One of such projects is "Operation PEBU"
designed to engage the soldiers help experts build their future living
quarters.
This Report studies the on-going "Operation Pebu" exercise in Kaiyamba Chiefdom
in the Moyamba District, its progress and associated constraints, and to
advance recommendations that would enhance its effective implementation. It is
hoped that this Report will enhance a clear understanding of the contribution
of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces to the post-war reconstruction and
development in the country, and its efforts to rebuild its image and
relationship with the civilian population, and to also advance recommendations
for the successful implementation of the project.
It is important to note that information contained in this Report is obtained
through interviews with the people of Kaiyamba Chiefdom and Senior Officers of
the 6th Battalion in Moyamba, and it is in no way aiming at discrediting the
efforts of the respective parties involved in the implementation of the
project.
Moyamba before Operation Pebu Moyamba is relatively a small town situated in
the southern corners of Sierra Leone. It is one of the four districts that fall
under the provincial administrative control of the south. Apart from the
presence of numerous local and international non-governmental organizations
like Plan, Moyamba is not the type of area flooded with activities prevalent in
areas like Kenema, Bo and Makeni. The town is relatively cool, calm and
collected with activities flowing slowly and in a traditional manner that
typifies the history and culture of the people of Moyamba.
Moyamba maybe miles away from Freetown but it is in no way isolated from the
rest of the world. Celtel, the leading mobile telecommunications company in the
country, has long extended its operations in Moyamba. Nearly three among every
ten adults have a mobile phone connected to Celtel, which they use in
communicating with the rest of the world at relative ease. The town itself is
home to several important personalities in the country and it hosts the first
female secondary school in the hinterlands, the Harford School for Girls. It is
said that Siaka P. Stevens, Sierra Leone's first President, hailed from Moyamba
(evident in the houses he built there).
Historically, Moyamba was believed to have been founded during the mid 15th
century by a famous warrior called Kai Yamba. The legend has it that the wife
of Kai Yamba found a big kola nut near a river close to the village, which she
brought to the husband (Kai Yamba) demanding what it meant. The husband, having
knowledge of the kola nut, laughed over the wife's curiosity explaining that
the kola nut is called Yambatui (literally meaning Kola nut found along the
river). Since then, the river was named Yambatui - symbolizing a great cultural
and historical transformation in the evolutionary trend of the people of
Moyamba. The name itself Moyamba was used by the people to express their
satisfaction and loyalty to Kai Yamba. It precisely means, "We support Yamba."
This may have been due to Kai Yamba's great efforts in securing the kingdom
from attacks and conquest by neighbors particularly the Temne of Yonni.
Moyamba has produced one of the most outstanding female leaders in the history
of Black Africa. Madam Mammie Yoko reigned at a period when Queen Victoria was
ruling England. Today, able women paramount chiefs who have succeeded in
bringing fame and glory not only to themselves but the district and its people
in general are still governing the district. The famous Madam Ella Koblo Golama
II is the current paramount chief of Kaiyamba Chiefdom. She is both a political
and cultural figure in the district, a complete icon of opulence and glory to
the people of Moyamba. She controls a wider geographical area with able sub-
chiefs comprising of women like Madam Jenneh Soloku of Mosu Section possessing
similar character and influence amongst the people.
Like all other parts of the country, Moyamba was not exempted from the horrific
brutality that emanated out of the RUF rebellion during the past decade. Due to
its proximity to the Sierra Rutile mines in Mokanjie, Moyamba became a target
for RUF rebels during the end of 1994 and 1995 when Mokanjie fell under the
control of the rebels. The Sierra Leone Army under the Ranger Squad Operation
at the time succeeded in repelling the RUF offensive against Moyamba thereby
uprooting the rebels from Mokanjie. Following this, a detachment of military
personnel was permanently stationed in Moyamba to reinforce the crack squad in
Mokanjie when the need arises.
However, the indisciplinary attitudes of the military particularly the
incessant harassment of civilians created an orgy development between the two.
A popular disenchantment of the military's presence in Moyamba became a topical
issue of the people. Many started agitating for the withdrawal of the soldiers
from the town. Matters became worst with the formation of the Kamajor Civil
Defense Militia and their deployment in Moyamba by early 1996. Repeated
confrontations between the two parties led government to order for the
withdrawal of the Army from the area in 1996. Since then, Moyamba was
exclusively under the security and defense of the Kamajors till United Nations
Peacekeepers deployed in the area in 2001. The Kamajors repelled several
attempts by the then rebellious Sierra Leone Army and their RUF allies in 1998
to takeover the town with stiff resistances.
The Moyamba Green Field Site As already stated above, there was no military
presence in the Kaiyamba Chiefdom or maybe the entire Moyamba District for the
past seven years after the withdrawal of the Sierra Leone Army from the area in
1996.
Moyamba in general and Kaiyamba Chiefdom in particular re-witnessed another
wave of military deployment with the arrival of the United Nations Mission in
2000 and its subsequent deployment in strategic areas in the country. As part
of the post-war reconstruction exercise, government and its international
partners embarked on a series of programmes to re-equip and restructure its own
security apparatus in order to takeover the security and defense of the country
after UNAMSIL would have withdrawn its troops from the country.
It is in line with this programme that government through assistance from its
international partners identified seven green field sites or areas across the
country for the construction of Barracks for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed
Forces. The project itself is called "Operation Pebu." It is designed not only
to engage the soldiers help experts build their future living quarters but also
as a strategy to locate various military barracks within the country in order
to enable the RSLAF to maintain the territorial integrity of the nation in a
timely manner.
Moyamba is one of the green field sites identified by government for the
construction of a military barracks to provide security and defense for the
area. To facilitate this, a hundred and fifty (150) acres of land was donated
by the Gulama family for the construction of eighty (80) blocks of five
apartments for Private and Lance Corporals, fifty senior blocks for other ranks
and thirty single buildings for Second Lieutenants, a guardroom, four company
offices, an administrative building, five stores and a school.
The project was launched by President Kabbah in October 2003 and was to last
for a period of six months. In Moyamba, work at the green field site has made
some progress with the bulk of the work being manually done by members of the
6th Battalion under the supervision and directives of a military Engineer
specially trained in the United States for the exercise. However, the military
is receiving the support and assistance of UNAMSIL troops stationed in the
area. The Bangladeshi Contingent constructed the tracks, eight trenches and
latrines at the site whilst the Nepalese continue supplying water to the site
for the speedy completion of the project. Technical training is also being
provided by UNAMSIL to the military.
About twenty personnel completed training in generator maintenances and other
engineering techniques organized by the Nepalese. Both the Nepalese and
Bangladeshi have been instrumental in providing transportation facilities to
the site.
As at the time of this Report, the military has completed the construction of
one block for other ranks, a guardroom and five company offices. The
administrative building still awaits furniture. Construction of the senior non-
commissioned officers quarters is yet to commence whilst the Nepalese earlier
constructed motor tracks.
The RSLAF did not only concentrate on the construction of the 6th Battalion
Barracks alone, they are also working towards rebuilding their strained
relationship with the people of Moyamba. To achieve this, it is reported that
the military regularly organize football gala and other sporting events between
themselves and the civilians. During the last Christmas festival, for instance,
the military allowed the civilians use their make shift camp as an outing
resort. Most remarkably towards enhancing a positive and perfect civil-military
relationship in Moyamba was the construction of a football field by the
military, which they donated to the people of Moyamba as a contribution to the
post-war reconstruction and development exercise in the country. This is
perhaps the most spectacular contribution of the RSLAF to national development
in recent times especially so for the people of Moyamba.
Constraints Like any other project of this nature, the construction of the 6th
Battalion Army Garrison in Kaiyamba Chiefdom, Moyamba District is not free from
problems.
The project, which commenced in October of last year, should have been complete
before the end of April this year. The six-month time line set for the project
has long elapsed with virtually little progress made. As already stated above,
out of the proposed structures only one block for other ranks, a guardroom and
five company offices and the administrative building have been complete as at
the time of this Report. The administrative building still awaits furniture to
be placed in it. This is a fraction of the total project itself. Construction
of the senior non-commissioned officers quarters and thirty single buildings
for senior officers is yet to commence. Though progress is being made, the
whole exercise itself is moving at a snail's pace.
This situation, according to those interviewed, is due to the unavailability of
the required machinery for the effective implementation of the project. The
soldiers themselves, without any machinery to support their efforts, do the
whole construction exercise manually. This situation has greatly affected the
fast progress of the project. There are no tractors, no digging machines and
transport facilities. Soldiers have to carry two bricks each for a distance of
about five hundred meters from the construction site. There is no sufficient
water supply. Though the Bangladeshi and Nepalese are supplying water with
their tanks to the soldiers, these supplies are inadequate for the volume of
work and activity being undertaken in a hundred and fifty acres of land.
Similarly, the geographical location of the "Operation Pebu" green field site
maybe strategically placed but it is a bit isolated from the town thereby
making movements to and from the site difficult. This serves as an impediment
to the progress of the work especially when needed materials have to be
transported from the town. Worst of all, there are no vehicles set aside to
facilitate such movements. Adversely, these have also contributed in the slow
progress of the construction.
Again, projects of such volume require the expertise of an advanced and
specialized contractor to undertake the supervision of such an exercise. Though
it is designed to engage soldiers help experts build their future dwellings,
there was nothing like the presence of an expert at the "Operation Pebu" Green
Field Site in Moyamba as at the time of this Report. The whole exercise was
undertaken exclusively by the RSLAF under the directives of a Sierra Leonean
Military Officer, who went for a two months crash course in the United States
to study basic construction planning and supervising. It is indisputable that
an exercise of this nature requires an old hand individual contractor capable
to undertake such a voluminous project. A two months training is insufficient
for a construction of this nature. This is clearly manifest in the types of
structures already constructed at the site. Besides, the military complain of
not receiving the adequate or required supplies from government for the
completion of the project. Therefore, the whole exercise is becoming one solely
undertaken by the RSLAF with the International Military Advisory Training Team
(IMATT) and the government claiming an empty success in the whole affair.
Effects
In effect, however, the idea of engaging the military help experts build their
future quarters appears laudable but its success and productivity is very
unlikely if the whole exercise is left exclusively at the hands and feet of the
military alone. It is important in the sense that, this makes the military to
realise and recognize its role and responsibility to national development.
Despite current setbacks or maybe hitches in the whole exercise, "Operation
Pebu" is strategically in place.
It may go a long way in restoring confidence on the Army and help rebuild their
shaky relationship with the civilian population. This might even be more
important in areas like Moyamba where civil-military relationship was gravely
sordid and moribund during the war.
Recommendations
But in order to enhance the smooth implementation and completion of this
exercise, a well-trained and experienced Contractor should be contracted and
charged with the responsibility of supervising and/or directing the procedures
and methods of construction. In the like manner, a special and independent
supplier should be assigned with the task of providing the required implements
and materials needed in the execution of the exercise. A thorough and
independent assessment of the work should regularly be undertaken, and
government needs to establish an independent supervisor to oversee the
implementation process of the project. Transportation facilities and machinery
- vehicles, tractors, caterpillars and tippers - need to be made available to
enhance the speedy completion of the project. Regardless of these, however,
government will be beating more than what to chew.
A Research undertaken by The Africanist Movement-Sierra Leone.
For more information contact: africanistmovement2003@yahoo.com or Tel: 076-
757924/ www.firms.findlaw.com/africanistmovement

   

  ==============================================================================
 Copyright © 2004 Concord Times. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica
                          Global Media (allAfrica.com).
  ==============================================================================