By Tilly Barrie
The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces Friday bade farewell to the International Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT) at a colourful ceremony held at the Myohaung Officers’ Mess, Wilberforce in Freetown.
After 15 years of service to the RSLAF, the British trainers were ending their operations in the country, said Colonel Brima Sesay, Commander of the Third Infantry Brigade.
Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Samuel O. Williams, said that the most significant development in the creation of IMATT was the establishment of the British Short Term Training Team (BSTTT), which provided the opportunity for the military to return along professional line and to play a leading role in the reintegration process.
He said the philosophy of “your men first” was the legacy for which IMATT would be remembered. Minister of Defence, Pallo Conteh paid tribute to General David Richards a former IMATT Commander for “taking the risks” to carry out “a single decisive intervention to save the country”.
Major Williams catalogued IMATT’s assistance, which he said, ranged from the restructuring programme including downsizing RSLAF and making it more professional, establishing a new defence ministry with civilian oversight, the Horton Academy, Armed Forces Training Centre (AFTC), Peace Mission Training Centre (PMTC) and Brigade Battle Schools (BBS). He said those legacies would not be forgotten in a hurry.
Outgoing IMATT Commander, Colonel J. Martins, observed that RSLAF had proven to be a capable and effective force following its deployment to Darfur and very soon to Somalia and elsewhere, including its successful delivery of security support in the last general elections. He said that RSLAF was today one of the most respected and trusted government institutions.
The IMATT commander also said that they would be ending their operations in the country and the International Security Advisory Team (ISAT) would start providing advisory role and training to the RSLAF.
He said ISAT would continue to send officers and soldiers on courses in UK and elsewhere, and advised RSLAF to continue to use the practices, processes and procedures that had been put in place to do its business properly.
