Sierra Leone
Norwegian Army strongly criticizes leadership of UN mission

afrol.com, 24 August - The Norwegian Army Headquarters is planning its withdrawal from the UNAMSIL forces in Sierra Leone. The reason given is bad coordination in Sierra Leone, lack of Norwegian officers and the intensified Norwegian presence in the NATO troops in Kosovo (Europe), according to reports in the Norwegian press.

The Norwegian delegation to the UN, however, has protested to this decision by the army, saying it would oppose the responsibilities Norway has assumed. Further, the timing could not be worse, as there is a peace accord in Sierra Leone needing to be enforced, something that demands a strong UN presence.

In a report presented to the Norwegian minister of defence, Bjørn Godal, the Army senior commander Ole-Gerhard Røn strongly criticizes the unarmed UN mission of observers to Sierra Leone:

- The UN operation in Sierra Leone does not have competent leadership.

- UN efforts are undermined by bad routines and operational instructions.

- The work of the military observers is undermined by unclear roles and work instructions.

Further, the Norwegian Army regards the conflict in Sierra Leone as a civil war (although having regional implications). Thus the UN involvement is more a humanitarian mission without a direct or indirect implication to the Norwegian military or security situation, Røn assessed the situation.

Also the risks are seen as too high for Norwegian personnel in Sierra Leone, especially in the areas that are not under government control. Norwegians were shocked by the abduction of captain Knut Gjellestad earlier this year - the first in Norway's 40 years of contributing to UN peacekeeping missions.

Norwegian deputies to the UN rule out the immediate withdrawal from Sierra Leone, pointing to the critical situation at the moment. On the longer run, however, a Norwegian withdrawal is possible. A small country like Norway has limited resources and must focus its commitment to few places, the conclusion was.

Norway has been one of the greater contributors to the UN peacekeeping forces from its first mission in the Congo War 1960-63. Since then, Norwegian peacekeepers have participated in all corners of the world, with their strongest contribution to the South Lebanon peace mission. Due to drastic cuts in the defense budgets the last years, also Norwegian participation in the UN forces have dropped, and Norway pulled out of Lebanon last year after a mission of nearly 20 years. Now, there are 1300 Norwegians in UN uniforms world-wide, with a main focus on Kosovo.

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