The acronym ECOMISIL meaning ECOWAS Mission Sierra Leone, has replaced the acronym ECOMOG. This is a major development in the acquisition of democracy and the rule of law and order and national security in Sierra Leone in particular. In September, the new military troops called ECOMISIL are expected to arrive in the country, according to the two-day meeting in Abuja where ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff met and discussed fragile Sierra Leone and sub-region. (Photo: ECOWAS Chiefs of Army Staff in Abuja).

A competent military source in Nigeria says the New Commander of ECOMISIL will arrive later in August or in September and is expected to base at the new ECOMISIL Headquarters in Murray Town and Aberdeen axis in the capital Freetown. ECOMISIL are coming purposely to provide stability in the country and for the restoration of constitutional order and prevent undemocratic governance in Sierra Leone. This is good news for the suffering citizens in Sierra Leone.

They are coming primarily to monitor and supervise the full implementation of the Tripartite recommendations with the Contentious Issues also known as Electoral Justice inclusive. The phrase “Actionable and Implementable,” is pivotal in the Communique document that born the Tripartite being spurred on by the APC leader Dr Samura Kamara, who clearly won the June 24, 2023 elections but stolen in broad daylight by the electoral thief and illegal President Maada Bio. (Photo: ECOWAS Army Chiefs).

It has also been confirmed that two other areas have been allocated for the deployment of the ECOMISIL peacekeeping forces to be used as bases in the Freetown area and its environs. Hastings and Kerry Town have been selected as strategic bases to house the ECOMSIL soldiers whose arrival in September has uplifted the spirits and enthusiasm of the suffering Sierra Leone electorates who were robbed of their priceless votes last year. Kerry Town is located about 31 kilometres (19 miles) from the capital, Freetown, which lies to the west-north-west. Hastings Town lies approximately 15 miles east of Freetown.

However, the SLPP/Paopa supporters and regime are very unhappy at the moment. Moreover, sources in Abuja have also intimated that there are around 1,200 strong military personnel expected to make up the ECOMISIL peacekeepers. These twelve hundred soldiers are sophisticated military men and women who are considered as mechanised battalion troops with strength and have weapons including Armour Cars, Heavy Duty Artilleries in their command. The personnel will include the Air Force and the Navy who will be part and parcel of the ECOMISIL troops. Around 5000 troops are expected in the country and the bulk of them will be based at the main ECOMISIL Depot in Lungi, near the Lungi International Airport.

Many Sierra Leoneans have given up hope of Maada Bio ever leaving State House. The doubters are with the fervent belief that Tripartite is useless and finished and nothing concrete will come out of it. Such pessimism is understandable considering the massive campaigns being carried out by the SLPP Vuvuzelas to deceive and mislead the gullible people. But not anymore, thanks to the relentlessness of the APC Council of Media Bloggers led by APC Malaka Duplicate and others. (Photo: ECOWAS Army bosses).

It is important to note that 1,200 ECOMISIL soldiers is just an initial number arriving. More shall land depending on the demand on the ground. ECOMISIL are coming with a clear mandate. To first stabilise the unstable country, to usher confidence and trust between the population and the various security sectors. The troops from the various West African contributing countries are professionals. Reports say Maada Bio fought helter-skelter to stop the deployment of ECOMISIL in Sierra Leone.

The illegitimate President Maada Bio does not favour even the 1,200 strong troops but the United Nations Security Council pressurised ECOWAS to facilitate the deployment in Sierra Leone for Electoral Justice. Reports say ECOWAS had delayed the process apparently because of bribery and corruption. Maada Bio is believed to have used millions of US dollars to bribe certain high profile ECOWAS leaders to prevent ECOMISIL. But Security Council said no. For the blind doubters, they should ask why did ECOWAS send troops to Sierra Leone and not Liberia? More details are as follows –

ECOWAS Stabilisation Force and ECOMISIL Strategic Framework

MANDATE – The mandate authorised ECOMISIL to use all necessary means within the limits of its capacity and areas of deployment in the execution of the following tasks:

•     Support the defence forces to ensure a secured environment in the country
•     Support the protection of vital state institutions
•     Ensure security to the civilian population and support the defence and security forces in their efforts to improve security condition in accordance with international humanitarian laws
•     Contribute to strengthening of trust between the population, the defence and security forces
•     The manage shall include other assignments that the Authority may decide to entrust to the mission

ECOWAS Directive to the ECOMISIL Force Commander

Political Strategic Objective: – To implement a comprehensive and inclusive settlement to the current political crisis and ensure peace and stability in the country. Political Strategic End-state: The Sierra Leonean institutions are able to maintain law and order, provide basic services, and facilitate economic facilities in the country. Military Strategic Objective: To deter any threat of instability within the Republic of Sierra Leone and create favourable conditions for democracy to prosper.

Mission Phases

Phase 1 Deployment (15 – 30 September) – The deployment phase of the operation is the period of establishment of the mission. This period may witness a lot of activity, which include the projection and implantation of contingents. During this phase, the vulnerability of the mission is high so, there is a need for the units to be more vigilant. (Photo: ECOWAS Army Chiefs).

According to Wikipedia, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone UNAMSIL was a United Nations peacekeeping operation in Sierra Leone from 1999 to 2006. It was created by the United Nations Security Council in October 1999 to help with the implementation of the Lomé Peace Accord, an agreement intended to end the Sierra Leonean civil war. UNAMSIL expanded in size several times in 2000 and 2001. It concluded its mandate at the end of 2005, the Security Council having declared that its mission was complete.

The mandate was notable for authorizing UNAMSIL to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence (albeit “within its capabilities and areas of deployment”) – a return to a more proactive style of UN peacekeepers. UNAMSIL replaced a previous mission, the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL). After 2005 the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) began operations as a follow-up to UNAMSIL. UNIOSIL’s mandate was extended twice and ended in September 2008. Courtesy: Wikipedia.