The Nigerian Army has deployed 86 personnel to the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau, as part of Nigeria’s continued contribution to peace and security operations in the region.
Nigerian Company 5” mission code troops left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, aboard a Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft, it was reported.
The Army said in a statement on Saturday on its official social media platforms that the personnel have arrived safely in Guinea-Bissau and have started their assignment under the mandate of the Economic Community of West African States.
Before their departure from the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Forward Operating Base in Abuja, the Chief of Operations, Maj. Gen. Mayirenso Saraso, urged the troops to demonstrate professionalism, discipline and operational excellence throughout the mission.
Represented by the Director of Peace Support Operations, Brig. Gen. M.M. Idris, Saraso charged them to be worthy representatives of the Nigerian Army, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the country.
He also directed the personnel to respect the laws and customs of Guinea-Bissau in the performance of their duties.
The troops have been cautioned against sexual exploitation and abuse, substance abuse, indiscipline and irresponsible use of social media.
The deployment, the Army said, was a manifestation of Nigeria’s continued commitment to regional stability and its leading role in the ECOWAS peace support operations.
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Nigeria, it stated, remains a significant contributor to regional and international peacekeeping operations in Africa, benefiting from decades of experience under ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations.
The statement also said the latest deployment underscored Nigeria’s strategic role in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and post-conflict stabilisation across the continent.
The ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau was established to support security sector reforms and to ensure political stability following years of political crises and military interventions.
The mission came after the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau, sent following the 2012 coup in that country.
It is part of the regional bloc’s efforts to safeguard constitutional order and prevent the instability in Guinea-Bissau from escalating into a broader security threat.
In the past, Nigeria has provided troops, logistics and military leadership to peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.
