Sierra Leone soldiers not afraid of Al-Shabab - military boss assures

The Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Major General Samuel Williams says his troops are not afraid of the ismalist group, Al Shabab, who have threatened the 850-strong troops currently deploying in Somalia. The first batch of an unspecified number left Freetown on Tuesday. They are the largest contingent to be deployed since the end of the rebel war which left the army in tatters. It had earlier sent a company of troops to Darfur. Major General Williams said his mechanised infantry battalion would be there to “bring the peace, consolidate the gains of other contingents before us and protect the interim government”. He said they would also protect humanitarian convoys in the war torn country. “We are not worried by the Al Shabab threat” to kill Sierra Leonean troops, the chief of defence staff told Politico, adding “we will guard against them”. He said security had been stepped up in and around the Defence Headquarters in Freetown to ward off any eventuality. He said his troops going to Somalia had undergone adequate training “sufficient to be able to first of all defend themselves against any would-be attacks by Al-Shabab that could lead to massive casualties”, adding “ I have no fears that our men will accomplish themselves”. Assistant Chief of Defence Staff for Operations and Planning, Brigadier General Komba Mondeh told Politico that the troops would complete their deployment at the end of April and would be stationed in the south of the country including in the port city of Kismayo.