FBIS4-574
"drafr071_e_94014"
FBIS-AFR-94-071
Daily Report
12 Apr 1994
EAST AFRICA
Sierra Leone
Government Retires Army Chief, 13 Other Officers
Government Retires Army Chief, 13 Other Officers
AB1204184094 London BBC World Service in English 1705 GMT 12
Apr 94
AB1204184094
London BBC World Service
English
BFN
[From the "Focus on Africa" program]
[Text] There has been a major shake up in the top ranks of
the Sierra Leonean Army. Among the 14 senior officers who have
been sacked is the head of the Army, and it comes at a time when
the military is finding itself stretched in its drive against
the RUF [Revolutionary United Front] rebels. This month, the
RUF has staged attacks in northern Sierra Leone for the first
time in their three-year-old rebellion. From Freetown, Victor
Sylver telexed this report.
The Defense Department in Freetown has sent the head of the
Army, Major General Jusu Gottoh, and 13 top military officers on
compulsory retirement. A spokesman from the Defense Department
said the decision had been taken in the best interest of the
Army and the country. He did not elaborate further. Apart from
Gen. Gottoh, Brigadier (Modibo Lyman), and Brigadier Joy Toure,
a former brigade commander and current head of the Army's
training center, have also been retired. Four colonels and five
lieutenant colonels, including the commanding officer of the 2d
Battalion based in Makeni, as well as a major and a captain are
also on the list.
Although the official reason given for the move is that it
is
in the best interests of the Army and state, speculation is rife
that the NPRC [National Provisional Ruling Council] Government
is impatient with the pace of the war and with the apparent
success of the rebels. Ordinary Sierra Leoneans are sometimes
taken by surprise to note an escalation in rebel activities just
when they were beginning to be optimistic that the war would
soon come to an end. It would seem that recent action taken by
the rebels to hold a section of the Bo-Kenema Highway, and moves
to do the same on the Masingbe Matotaka-Kono Highway has finally
sapped the government's patience.
The first promise made by the men of the 29 April Revolution
when they came to power two years ago was to bring the rebel war
to a speedy conclusion. The man now charged with this
responsibility is Colonel (Kelly Conte), who is the new head of
the Army. Sierra Leoneans are eagerly watching to see if he can
perform the long-awaited miracle.