Nairaland Forum

andrewza:


I know that 80% of of the defense budget is spent on personal, that DICN and Naval Dockyards have never posted a profit even though they are set up has profit based companies. The short fall is taken from the defense budget. I know that there is masive level of corruptsion in the handling of defense money with littel accounterbielty. I know the defense force is under funded heavly. I know these things because I read books and reports on african countries. The las one I read was writen by Wuyi Omitoogun and Tunde Oduntan.

andrewza:


That is what your own people have siad. Actaully that is what smart educated nigerians have siad

you know no jackshiit mister...you are as ignorant as a dead duck. most of us have watched your blabbing for too long. go outside and play clown with the kids and let the intelligent ones continue the debate.

Fighter Pilot:

The man want to blame you for the rot. He accuses you of bombing their country. Just imagine, Lol!!

dumbest poster of the year award winner. go join Andrewza outside to play clown with the kids. olodo rabata!

Although Nigeria contributed much to liberate South Africa from the stranglehold of apartheid and, thereafter, threw her economic doors wide open for South African investors and goods, these actions have not stopped a low estimation of her citizens by South Africans, the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Kingsley Mamabola, said on Tuesday, in Abuja, at a meeting with the minister of interior, Emmanuel Ihenachor.

Answering a question from NEXT at the meeting planned to explore ways of broadening the existing bilateral relationship between both countries, Mr. Mamabolo gave reasons for the increasing hostilities and physical attacks launched against Nigerians in South Africa.

According to him, the regard for Nigerians in South Africa is very low because the criminal activities of a few Nigerian citizens there are the most visible things to the hosts. He denied, however, any insinuation of government backing for the attacks, insisting that a lot of effort was being made to offer Nigerians in South Africa more protection under the law.

“There is a lot that needs to be done about the perception of South Africans about Nigerians. The perception South Africans have about Nigerians is not good at all. Those Nigerians of a very tiny percentage - I will say just about one percent - engage in crimes that are generally seen by all and which overshadow the good works of the majority of Nigerians.

“South Africa is a law abiding society. There is law and order in our country. There is no lawlessness. South Africans as a whole fight for human rights in general. So, it is not true that the government is not doing anything on the situation. It is only in the newspapers that you see that (the hostility against Nigerians),” Mr. Mamabola said.

Responding, Mr. Ihenachor openly refuted a tag of ‘haven of piracy’ and related criminal activities wrongly placed on Nigeria in the global maritime industry.

Poor perception

The minister denounced the poor perception and challenged promoting the perception to either show evidence of the high activities of pirates in Nigeria or stop the image smear.

“I remember that he said that when he (Mr. Mamabolo) was posted here (to Nigeria), people were saying: ‘why are they punishing you? Why are they sending you here?’

“Now, he is enjoying Nigeria. It is an issue of perception,” the Nigerian minister said.

“If you read the papers and go on the Internet, you will never want to come to Nigeria because they say Nigeria is the second piracy capital in the whole world. This is untrue. I, as a master mariner, I have always been saying that I have not seen even one pirate in Nigeria. I do not know where those reports are coming from. If you report that Nigeria is a piracy nation, then there is a tendency that insurance on all the goods coming to Nigeria will rise,” Mr. Ihenachor said.

Mr. Mamabolo promised to look into the case of the deportation of a Nigerian from South Africa for non-possession of yellow card, with a view to preventing a future occurrence.

Apart from immigration issues, other areas the FG is planning to explore through the meeting with the South African government include prison management and maritime enterprise.

The South African government says it hopes to learn from Nigeria how it has successfully engaged in international peacekeeping for years now, as well as how it has effectively managed the conflicts of its federating units to form unity in diversity.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5614003-147/south_african_envoy_explains_hostility_to.csp

sambos994:

Chei, these saffers don smoke igbo.

Nna meeen, e be like say I go need to connect with this them igbo market o as the thing dey shark wella so.

sambos994:

What do you mean by "constant breaks in between". Are you even hearing yourself?

Bro, can you now see what I was saying when I said the guy no get sense?

Fighter Pilot:

I wouldn't blame you because English is not your mothers tongue, that's why you would rather prefer pidgin like a Chinese trying to spell pigeon which makes a lot of sense. We English speakers we generally refer to that Pidgin or Pijjin simply as pigeon English.

DISASTER!!! ...is that what they taught you in the "world class" schools you attended in SA?

my friend, we are speaking English here, that is Afrikaan spelling of PIDGIN o!

You no dey shame? Dictionary spells it one way and you are quarreling with Wikipedia for spelling it correctly, abi you dey crase ni?

COme, which school did you graduate from? I need to know where your brain got this twisted.

sambos994:

There are many types of pidgin english. It just happens that homerac is speaking Nigerian Pidgin Englsh. And it's "pidgin" not "pigeon". Don't you know the difference between an animal and a language....MUMU!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pidgin_English

Thank you jare my broda, helep m,e tell that olodo boy.

Fighter Pilot:

Pidgin is a misspelling from those who had a bad command of English language, especially that word is suspected of being derived from the Chinese. It is a widespread knowledge that Chinese are very bad in English. Those who are proficient in English language would comfortably refer to pidgin as PIGEON. Finish and klaar.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pidgin

^^^

Another evidence to show say you no get sense. I just showed you how dumb and daft you are from Encarta dictionary, yet you stupiidly are trying to debate with Wikipedia just to make yourself feel good. Are you normal at all?

Fighter Pilot:

Let me correct you chief. Pigeon English is spoken worldwide and is not something that is exclusive to Nigeria. Everybody who is not in good command of English would surely speak his/her English in a pigeon(dove)-like manner in relation to the region they come from.

No chief, there is only one pigeon English, it is only that in Nigeria they misspell it. The correct spelling is PIGEON. It is a bad English that is mainly spoken by those who are not well educated. The pigeon is mostly used in combination with indigenous languages, but the use of this language is fading as most South Africans are becoming fluent in English everyday.

^^^ evidence to show say you no get sense:

pidg·in [píjjin]
(plural pidg·ins)
noun
mixed common second language: a simplified language made up of parts of two or more languages, used as a communication tool between speakers whose native languages are different

Microsoft® Encarta® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Fighter Pilot:

"YOU NO GET SENSE" is a bad English and I wonder who taught you that rotten English.

Let me put it to you that you are just wasting your energy trying to elaborate something that is straightforward. TOGO could manage to identify some weaknesses in Nigerian Navy to deal effectively with prevalence of piracy in Nigeria, that's why they offered to help. Is that too much of everyone to understand? You only help those that you see really need help. Do you think that TOGO would have offered to help if Nigeria would have been handling the situation successfully? The answer is a big NO.

Again, you no get sense, otherwise you would have seen that i have always had to go between standard English and African patios to make ideas and concepts that are too "advanced" for your underdeveloped brain simple and familiar enough. But like I have proven severally in my laborious and painful exchanges with you, you still no get sense.

Sorry I can't help your hopeless situation you deluded soul.

By the way, stop spreading this s.hit that has been roundly discredited. Go look for your Soweto neighbours and tell them the lies, we know better:

Fighter Pilot: SANDF is indeed not just a toy to play with. Just note that after our comrades were attacked on a deadly ambush by Seleka rebels in CAR we retaliated en mass until our enemy raised the white flag to beg with our forces in a plea to stop killing their child soldiers.

WE ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE EVEN IF WE ARE OUTNUMBERED. what the f>ck !!! get over the thrashing brov

This is the proof below.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) which is the biggest opposition party in South Africa noted the Killing of over 800 rebels in CAR after the ambush of SA soldiers. Read the full story below;

http://www.da.org.za/newsroom.htm?action=view-news-item&id=12128

Capnd143: long time bro! You guys still logging horns with these SA military sluggards? @andrewza and co, hw is ur argument going?

Bros I dey o! Abeg no mind those muntula. them daft die!

How bodi?

Once more you are not making any sense.

it confirms what I said earlier that you no get sense and you are deficient in English language comprehension.

Firstly, let me put it to you that I am not an Afrikaans speaker, though I seem to be proficient in it, Afrikaans is not my mother's tongue. I am an English speaking coloured originally from Richards Bay, Kwazulu Natal before we relocated to Pretoria. English is my home language and am a mixed bred from the Malay and Indians who were brought to South Africa from Asia during the epoch of slave trade in the late 1700's.

irrelevant stories... who asked you? go tell it to the fishes.

TOGO WILL HELP NIGERIA FIGHT PIRACY

Yes they will ...and they always will. Proving we have assurances and trust of our allies and neighbours due to good foreign policies based on mutual respect and sustainable partnership. Not Rambo-wanna-be-s who "jumped" into domestic fight with poor intelligence and understanding, only to be caught up and sent running in body home in body bags and with tail between legs.

Now you see that "you no get sense"?

Fighter Pilot:

I don't see your bone of contention. The fact is TOGO will help, or should I say assist/aid Nigeria to fight piracy. Help/Assist/Aid is much of the same thing, I don't really see your point of argument.

You no get sense. Ordinarily it wouldn't have mattered, but given the bias of you dolts, it needs proper clarification. Your futile intent is to paint a sordid impression of weak Nigeria being helped by lowly Togo. But you are too limited by your myopia that you still dont understand the CONTEXT of the HELP being talked about here. I will TEACH you since I have empirical evidence of deficiency of you people in English language comprehension;

You don't carry out a cross-border operation without the cooperation (HELP) of the landlord(s), otherwise you will get into trouble and be disgraced out just like SA in CAR. The report mentioned Operation Prosperity which is a "joint" naval operation on coast of Togo, (not Nigeria you dumbhead). In simpler grammar, Nigeria is helping Togo secure her coastline from pirates as Togo has no navy, so Togo MUST provide all necessary assistance/HELP to make it work out or else Nigeria backs out and leave Togo to face her problems. Use your common sense, how can Togo without a navy help Nigeria Navy deal with piracy in Nigerian waters? ...common, you get brain nah...!

Nigeria also has joint naval military ops with Benin Republic, Ghana and Sao Tome & Principe. Joint Army ops with Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin Republic. In other words, Nigeria has joing military operation with all her next-door neighbours, Bight of Benin Neighbours and is building same with Gulf of Guinea neighbours.

I have taken time to lecture you on English language your "world class" schools failed to teach you and logical reasoning your proven-to-be-useless military schools failed to develop in you. More importantly, if only you have CAPACITY TO LEARN, I have given you a hint on Nigeria's regional military policy of partnership. You don't just barge into people home and form commando, afterall you people should now be wiser after CAR experience. There are deeper politics and subtle nuances that need be mastered above public display of shiny military weapons.

Now, I need you to be humble enough and show the discipline of a good air-man by thanking me properly for the FREE EDUCATION you just received.

Fighter Pilot: TOGO WILL HELP NIGERIAN NAVY FIGHT PIRACY.

http://www.neptunemaritimesecurity.com/togo-to-aid-nigerian-navys-fight-against-piracy/

Now read the full gist and note the bolded in order to aid your comprehension. I know it is written in English language and not Afrikaan, but try use common sense to comprehend.

Togo to Aid Nigerian Navy’s Fight against Piracy
Posted on May 30 2013 by David Rider

The Ambassador of Republic of Togo to Nigeria, Colonel Addo Maman Tchalare has pledged the commitment of his country to assist Nigeria’s crackdown on insurgents. The Ambassador made the assertion while on a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja recently.

Col. Tchalare said over the years, his country and Nigeria have strengthened their diplomatic ties which enabled them contribute immensely to sub-regional, regional and global security as founding members of ECOWAS. The Ambassador reiterated that his country will do everything to assist a brotherly nation like Nigeria to overcome her current security challenges, stating that without the atmosphere of peace and stability, the region cannot attract investors.

He also thanked the Nigerian armed forces for their support to the Togolese military through scholarship which enhanced the capability of Togolese military officers who are trained at the Nigerian Defense Academy, Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji and the prestigious National Defense College Abuja.

In his response, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba said the visit of the Togolese Ambassador has reinforced the need to partner in addressing insecurity in the sub-region. The CNS recalled the partnership between the Republic of Togo and Nigerian Navy which culminated in an operation code named “OPS PROSPERITY” aimed at addressing the challenges in maritime environment such as piracy and sea robbery.

Vice Admiral Ezeoba maintained that, though Nigeria is going through trying periods in respect of insurgency in some parts of the country, he is optimistic that the current challenges would be surmounted. He thanked the Republic of Togo for their show of brotherly commitment and solidarity.

www.navy.mil.ng

If you still have difficulty in understanding after reading, then BEG me nicely enough and I MIGHT be favourable disposed to help you with the passage comprehension.

#so much for your world class education if it is dolts like you it churns out.

Fighter Pilot:

This matter surely needs SA intervention

The naivete you guys display here is appalling. You have repeatedly shown your ignorance of Nigeria internal politics (that's quite understandable), West African politics (Anglophone-Francophone polarity), Gulf of Guinea politics (Anglophone-Francophone-Portugese/ West Africa vs Central Africal blocks) regional politics. Right in the middle of all is Nigeria managing a delicate relationship with minions of foreign powers, yet still commanding so much influence.

It is so easy to see piracy and insurgency as present challenges for Nigeria to handle, but only those who are informed understand the intricacies.

In the very naive and daft opinion of some dingbats here, SA Navy is the messiah....now how more silly can an opinion get? SA navy that has acutely limited brown water capability tackling pirates in flying boats? ...Do you get it at all? Well thats the flimsiest side of it DO you even know the politics behind the crime? ...surely you dont know. If from your crass logic, SA were to be in this very geographical space, the region would have imploded in a serious international wars of proxies which the main proponent (SA) will come out the biggest loser because you just played into the enemy's game plan.

The ignorance of complex and fragile regional and internal political intricacies that use these crimes as smoke screen as basis of your misguided opinion on Nigeria is why I have spared no abusive adjective at you guys.

Gusau added: “The governor also said for each released child that is enrolled in school, their parents would get N10, 000 for 30 days of uninterrupted stay in school

Am I the only one seeing this anomaly? So what happens to millions of other disenfranchesed kids that have so far behaved well by not being mini-terrorists?

saengine:

South Africa never went to CAR to fight any war. If you guys don't want to believe that, then we South Africans are also tired of explaining it to you. The air force jets and helicopters arrived after the battle. The South African Air Force was waiting for the decision of the African Union. If the AU said Seleka took power illegally and needed to be removed, the SA Air Force would have bombed them to bits.

cry me a river!

Nigeria deployed to Sierria Leone and started the fight when ECOWAS/AU was yet to deliberate. Not solid excuse brov. Lets get over this SELEKA thrashing and move forward, it will only make SANDF stronger (if you choose to learn).

Nice machines though (...afterall you are best in photo-ops)

una no go wound me with laugh here ...

^^^

Yes o! I also learnt Aradu is due for refitting. Hope that comes to pass. Very soon each of the commands might be backed with a frigate as NN rebuilds herself from long years of misrule.

I would like that right of space be negotiated with Sao Tome and Principe for a forward operating base which also houses light air wing + army commando group to cover that zone but reports to NNS Victory (Easyern Naval Command, Calabar). If Ojukwu was able to pull off such negotiation with them during the war, I believe it will take less persuasion to get it granted. Afterall, we explore their oil for them and grant them extended military pact. So it might be high time we put ships and troops to that zone when the equipment arrive.

France and Portugal will develop heart attack immediately. lol

We cant wait.

I hope @Ndubuisi has gone to get a lawyer to sue the yeye university that gave him useless voodoo education and fake certificate, because I have just seen another fresh piece of news to rub in his olodo face.

NIGERIAN NAVY TO RECEIVE TWO EX-UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AND UNITED STATES NAVY SHIPS IN 2014, ‘USNS JOHN MCDONNELL’ AND ‘USCGC GALLATIN’ NETTED – CNS; NIGERIAN NAVY ANNOUNCE PROGRAMME OF EVENTS FOR 57TH ANNIVERSARY (NAVY WEEK 2013)
Posted on May 25, 2013 by beegeagle



The USCGC Gallatin is a 115 metre 3,250 ton Hamilton-class ship. She is a sister ship to the NNS Thunder F90 which was transferred to the Nigerian Navy on May 13, 2011 and entered Nigerian service on January 23, 2012.



The USNS John McDonnell is a 64 metre 2,054 ton oceanographic survey ship

GLITZMAGG
24 May, 2013

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Dele
Ezeoba, said on Friday that Nigeria would get two additional warships from
U.S. Ezeoba announced this in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the activities lined up to mark the 57th Anniversary of the Nigerian Navy.

Represented by Rear Adm. Emmauel
Ogbor, Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP),
Ezeoba gave the names of the ships as US Navy Survey Ship MCDONELL and US Coast Guard Cutter GALLATIN. He said the transfer of the ships to the Nigerian Navy (NN) would be actualised before the end of 2014, adding that the joint visual inspection of the two vessels would be undertaken in May and August.

“I must put on record that the
Government of the U.S has in the last 10
years, transferred some ships to the navy as part of its capacity building support. “Some of the ships include THUNDER, OBULA, NWAMBA, KYANWA and OLOGBO. “These ships have contributed immensely to the security of the nation’s maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea,’’ he said.

Ezeoba said the issue of maritime
resource management involved not only
the navy but other stakeholders in the
industry. He said there was collaboration between the navy and other stakeholders in providing a secured environment for maritime resource management.

“To this extent, a crucial meeting with
stakeholders in the nation’s oil and gas
sector took place at the Naval
Headquarters on Feb. 21, 2013. “The meeting was aimed at proffering
workable solutions to the numerous
challenges in the sector. As a follow up to the meeting, the NN also hosted a 2-day retreat for maritime stakeholders at Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

“At the end of the retreat, far-reaching
resolutions were reached on how to
ensure a secured maritime environment
for the nation,’’ Ezeoba said. He said it was gratifying to note that the naval headquarters had begun the implementation of the resolutions with
commendable results.

According to the Chief of Naval Staff, the
issue of training has continued to receive priority attention in the scheme of things under his watch. Ezeoba said officers and ratings were continuously attending courses, seminars and symposia within and outside the country.

He said the programme for the navy’s
anniversary include interdenominational
church services, which will hold
simultaneously in all the Commands on
May 26, and special Juma’at prayers in
the commands on May 31.

“Navy Ships will be opened to visitors on
May 29, and on the same day, there will
be special medical rhapsody in host
communities. “On the evening of June 1, there will be Ceremonial Sunset and Cocktail party as the ceremonial sunset is one of the oldest and most significant naval ceremonies to conclude days of special importance.’’

http://glitzmagg.com/i/?p=3960

Nigerian Troops Rescue Women and Children Kidnapped By Boko Haram

Posted: May 24, 2013 - 16:04

By SaharaReporters, New York

The Nigerian Army today said it has rescued several women, and children held hostage by Islamist militant sect, Boko Haram.

Brigadier Chris Olukolade stated that on May 22, 2013, during operations to rid the Bama area of terrorists, the Nigerian military raided Boko Haram camps where they rescued nine women and children being held hostage.

Following the Bama attack on May 7, 2013, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau released that showed women and children that they had captured.

Brigadier Olukolade confirmed that the children and women rescued were the same people displayed by Boko Haram in the video.


http://saharareporters.com/news-page/nigerian-troops-rescue-women-and-children-kidnapped-boko-haram

Good news from our troops. May God continue to guide and enable them to conquer forces of evil.

souldust: ndubuisi is complaining about brain drain yet he doesnt want us to develop DICON even though we are in need of a local defence industry.

Left to me, i think we should just leave this ndubuisi alone. Let him talk to the air. This is just what i am going to do.

He gave an example of SA employing their engineers in DENEL, yet he doesnt think it is necessary for us to build a DICON to absorb the engineers we produce here in Naija.

you also see part of irrationalities in his reasoning that made me question whatever oluwole education and oga-at-the-top that put him in auditing state accounts instead of much smarter folks with genuine education. You see part of why Nigeria is in mess?

Ndubuisi711:

Having the strong military does not mean that it cannot rebel against its own government. We have seen such armies taking over their governments by force. Stability of one country is what attracts investments and not that the country has a strong military force.

Dude, I think you are deluded. Are you a learner?

First, your idea is too simple. I equally have the budgetary breakdown for last two years, and have been following for more years. One thing you should have known (if you are truly who you say you are) is that too many things are hidden away under different headings. It is "the more you look, the less you see". Can you tell me one budget that was fully implemented according to plan in the past 14 years? What about supplementaries under various guises? Guy, if you truly are involved in Nigerian government spending details as you want to portray here, you should know all these things I am telling you. What about "illegal" withdrawals and extra budgetary expenditures that were not captured in the appropriation acts,...do you or not know about them?

I am not saying that I have evidences that the govt is purchasing new platforms or not, but knowing the Nigerian Military tradition of uttermost secrecy in acquisitions, I can't equally refute it. Considering the present security challenges within and around Nigeria, it is too simplistic to imagine that Nigeria is not arming up seriously right now. The most visible was in 2009 appropriation act when part of Ministry of Niger Delta was actually for activities that should have been captured under Ministry of Defence budget. It was obvious that it was done to not create suspicion at the on-coming creek battle with the militants. Late Gen Abacha was arming up seriously under ECOMOG mandate whereas Nigeria was officially under arms embargo. I have said enough to make you to start connecting some dots you probably might have come across in line of your duty.

By the was, coup plotting will do no one, be it the military themselves or civilians, any good. It is obvious to all and sundry. It is currently a very distant fear. Mind yu, it is this very mindset nurtured by likes of IBB that ruined the fledging military and police we had up till Alhaji Shagari days. Today, all know better. The military now values professional soldiering while the civilian administration has within its short tenure seen the disadvantage of ill-equipped military. We have moved on from this your archaic mindset era.

My friend, shine ya eyes!

Ola Johnson:
Professors are supposed to be in the universities, not contesting elections but could hold appointive posts. I don't know of any part of the country where former VCs still go back to classes after their tenures. How professors have you seen or read about that contested the presidency in the US? Everybody in the SW politically conscious, no wonder subsequent government avoid any political uprising in that part of the country because it could destabilize the country. The first coups were not unconnected with events in the SW.

Clinton was a professor of Law

Al Gore returned to his associate professor position in university after losing election to GW Bush

Obama is Havard professor of Law

Eziachi:
Your experience is a good as mine. I swim and hunt every day with Awori people in Timbuktu, non of them ever trust Yoruba man or will dream of being called a Yoruba. They rather go and live in Benin Republic than for Lagos to be called a Yoruba land.
During the Abacha's era, they open the door for Yorubas to be humiliated and assassinated in Lagos by Al Mustapha and the Nigerian soldiers. On Yoruba itself, the Egbas regarded the rest of Yoruba as inferior, that why only them rules when you get the opportunity and they claim to be equal Yorubas during elections e.g Abiola/OBJ etc.
Dele Moumodu became the presidential candidate of his party, not even his wife voted for him and they said the publisher is too fat to be a proper Yoruba.
You see, we are kind of, on the same page.

lolzzzzzzzzzzz...you are so so funny!

`

13volts: The military has enjoyed full access and support of the governments in the affected states. The military also enjoyed the full privileges of using force – many times excessive – on any citizen they without hindrance from the state governments in the past two years.

So what exactly has hindered the military so much that they needed to compel Mr. President to give them a state of emergency to operate under? I am at loss here – completely. What has the state of emergency achieved when it was declared under this regime in some local governments including those now under Boko Haram occupation?

I need to be convinced how declaration of the state of emergency could make Boko Haram an exception.

I will ignore the accusation of plegiarism agains you for a moment and pretend that this is your original idea.

The differece you seek for is technicalities, simple! The rule of engagement under SOE is different from initial state. The military have more powers and flexibilities. The Baga-like incidence will no more be an abnormality, but normal under SOE. Hence, civil right expectation is lesser and brutal force is nom. If you still dont get it, it is a fancy name to say we are at war in that zone!

Get a script of the president's speech and read carefully, and you ill see the declaration of war.

it is unfortunate that many residents of our dear Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states have no yet realized that they are now in a declared full-war zone. Our people say that "a wise cripple starts his exodus before the start of a forewarned war" and "when the ear hears and refuses to tell the brain, it will surely be decapitated along with the head", now "a stubborn fly will end up in grave with the corpse". To be forewarned is to be forearmed, he that hath ears, let him hear.

KPAKAM!

Thiza: A REPORT ON 1997 BY A JOURNALIST IN SIERRA LEONE AND MANY NIGERIANS WOULD DISPUTE IT:

The weekend of Friday 11 July witnessed the third serious confrontation between Nigerian (ECOMOG) troops and AFRC/RUF fighters who have recently been renamed the ‘People’s Army’. Two days earlier on Wednesday 9 July, there was a full scale battle for control of the Lungi International Airport. In a previous encounter on Monday 2 June, Nigerian troops were, by popular acclamation, given a good hiding by the junta’s militia during an all-day gun battle that ended, with a truce, after the Nigerians ran out of ammunition and the capture of over 300 of their men. During the last two clashes, however, Nigerians had the upper hand, having recently brought in fresh reinforcements of men and ammunition for their demoralised troops.

The scene of the latest battle, which continued into Monday and part of Tuesday of the following week, was at Jui, about 15 miles east of Freetown and close to Benguema, the location of one of the country’s main military training camps. Jui is host to a contingent of Nigerian troops. Nearby is Hastings with its National Police Training School, and an Airport that is currently under the control of the Peoples Army. There is a displaced persons camp close to the town. An RUF base was said to have been recently established in the area. Troops from there were deployed for the clash with the Nigerians which started after a Nigerian air force jet buzzed Freetown, flying so low that it threw the city and its outskirts into confusion and fear.

Eye witnesses told of continuous bombardment with heavy weapons and mortar fire. Civilians fled for safety, and shops and markets were closed. There were officially over 90 deaths during this battle, including civilians and a very large number of soldiers on both sides. Some reports have claimed that this figure is extremely conservative and have put the casualty as high as between 450 and 600 which, they also say, were mainly casualties of the People’s Army. But AFRC Military sources strongly denied these reports, saying they were pure propaganda and boasted that they were a match for the Nigerians. No reliable figures have been easy to come by because all sides deliberately understate their own casualties while inflating their opponent’s.

Those who were first on the scene have reported that the town was reduced to rubble and is empty after all its remaining inhabitants fled. Although calm had returned to the area by Tuesday, reporters said that the opposing armies were still in their trenches in readiness for possible renewed fighting.

Up to the time of writing this account, the ICRC was still negotiating to be allowed to enter the battleground to remove corpses for burial and the wounded for treatment. A surgeon described the victims’ bodies as "completely mangled and hardly recognisable". Casualties included policemen whose HQ was hit by a rain of missiles fired by the Nigerians, killing six of them. The AFRC claimed that in another incident a bomb dropped by a Nigerian air force jet killed a family of four in the town. The military barracks in Jui were also completely wrecked by Nigerian artillery.

The Nigerians appear also to have had the better of the clash of Wednesday 9 July for control of the Lungi International Airport. Reports said "hundreds of RUF fighters" were killed, with one quoting as many as over 300. The regime strenuously deny this but have as yet issued no casualty figures. Scores of innocent civilians also died in the crossfire. The Lungi military barracks were flattened by Nigerian battery. Lungi Town itself as well as the airport are both firmly under the control of Nigerian forces.

Fighting started after AFRC soldiers were sent to silence a pirate station which had broadcast messages by President Kabbah to the people of Sierra Leone. The finger of suspicion was pointed at the Nigerians whom the AFRC accused of facilitating and harbouring the transmitter at their base. A spokesman for the regime alleged that AFRC/RUF troops were on their way to the airport when they were engaged into an argument by Nigerian soldiers: "The Nigerians were hostile and started trading insults and then things got out of hand .. there was hand-to-hand fighting at one stage before the two sides separated and took up heavy bombardment." Another military man said that it was the Nigerians who "started attacking our men on the ground… the only thing that can bring this fight under control is for the international world to tell Nigeria to get out of our territory".

The Nigerians flatly denied these charges. ECOMOG commander General Victor Malu, speaking form Monrovia (Liberia), said "we had no reason to attack them". A statement form ECOMOG HQ in Liberia declared: "…The junta launched the fierce attack on the allegation that ECOMOG installed an FM station in Lungi. The junta’s attack was therefore aimed at destroying the station". Acting Nigerian defence spokesman Godwin Ugbo, speaking in Abuja, issued a prompt denial of the allegation that the clandestine radio station was being operated by Nigerians. He said that as far as they were concerned they did not even know of it, so the question of their funding it did not arise.

The sound of gunfire caused pandemonium in the west end of Freetown which had been tense since a speech by President Kabbah was broadcast on a pirate radio station "SLBS FM 98.1" that uses a frequency that is close to the real Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS) Radio - FM 98.99. For nearly two days after the latest fighting the radio remained silent but resumed broadcasts on the third day.

and so?....the report only tells of a hard fought battle in an enemy's territory which Nigerian troops eventually won. To show your acute daftness, Gen Malu scured the reinstatement of Alhaji Tijan Kabbah as the country's president even after the incident after the rebels have been effectively vanquished without any territory in the country. Can same be said about SANDF in CAR?

andrewza:


SA never left goma. The DRC solders left. SA was in goma and was still conducting patrol even after goma fell to M23.

I never menstioned any thing because nothing happened. M23 rocked up UN peace keepers watched them M23 never fired a shot. Rather boring.

My friend, stop playing hide-and-seek with me! go to the report again and attend to the issues i highlit specifically against all your earlier ramblings on this thread. For your sake, I will repost it again;

A 1000-strong South African contingent is expected to be deployed to the region within a month as part of an African intervention force. It will almost certainly be drawn into conflict with the heavily armed and battle-hardened M23 rebel group after the collapse of peace talks between the rebels and the central government in Kinshasa.

One of 33 rebel groups in the region, the M23 has 40t of munitions looted from DRC army armouries in clashes in the east of the country last year.

The M23 routed DRC government forces in November in a fight for the capital of the country's eastern region, Goma, where South African peacekeepers were deployed. In the battle for Goma, South African soldiers were caught by surprise and the M23 forces - whose officers have over 20 years of jungle combat experience - were able to take the town within days.

Reported to have access to T55 and T72 Soviet-era tanks, and armed with anti-tank and surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft guns, heavy machine guns, armoured vehicles and rocket-propelled grenades, the M23's 5500-strong force is in the final stages of preparing for war.

The rebels have upped their propaganda war against the South Africans since warning President Jacob Zuma last month of a "catastrophic and apocalyptic" response if the SANDF engaged them.

The group has since revealed that it plans to kidnap SANDF troops to force South Africa to about-turn on the deployment.

The rebels are said to be backed by Rwandan and Ugandan military advisers and special forces, a claim both countries deny.

In March, the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of a 3000-man intervention force to the DRC to work alongside 17000 UN peacekeepers. The intervention force, which will comprise South African, Malawian and Tanzanian troops, is expected to arrive in the DRC within a month.

As opposed to the peacekeeping force, the new intervention force's mandate will see troops being able to engage rebel forces regardless of provocation in order to bring stability to the region.

Two months ago 13 South African paratroops were killed in the battle for the Central African Republic's capital, Bangui.

South Africa's most serious military disadvantages in that battle were lack of air support and poor intelligence - the same situation now faced by the troops destined for the DRC.

The SANDF has limited heavy-lift air transport capability, its Rooivalk attack helicopters' Makopa anti-tank missiles are not yet certified, and it is most unlikely that the air force's Gripen fighter jets will be deployed to the DRC. Knowing all this, South African soldiers are gravely concerned about the impending battle.

An army officer, who has knowledge of the mission's planning, said: "We train and fight hard. We know our job and are capable, but with little air support, this fight is difficult. We learned good lessons in CAR but, make no mistake, this will not be easy.

"The M23 are well-armed and have good intelligence. They will not fight conventionally. It will be guerrilla-style attacks preying on our weaknesses, and our lack of cohesion and joint training with the other forces."

SANDF spokesman Brigadier-General Xolani Mabanga declined to comment other than to say: "We are awaiting the UN's force deployment orders."

Defence analyst Helmoed Heitman said: "The M23 are not a bunch of ragtag rebels. They are superior in their jungle-fighting capabilities with backing from neighbouring countries [that are] running proxy military forces in the region.

''Our biggest problem is lack of air capabilities. We have the Rooivalk attack helicopter and Oryx troop-carrying helicopters, but we have no proper heavy-lift transport aircraft to get our equipment and troops in and out safely.

"The Rooivalk's anti-tank missile is not certified, meaning it will have to get dangerously close to the enemy for its rockets to be effective.

"We are taking our long-range G5 cannon and various armoured vehicles but these vehicles will not withstand the M23's fire-power. Their 37mm anti-aircraft guns are lethal both to air and ground targets and they have the support of tanks and special forces."

Heitman said major hindrances included the lack of intelligence. "Our defence intelligence is what got us into trouble in CAR.

"Added to this is the UN's view that this is just another peacekeeping mission. Instead of additional forces, they divided the current peacekeeping force, transferring the South African brigade to the intervention force and creating a vacuum for the rebels to capitalise on. This is not peacekeeping. It will be aggressive counter-guerrilla warfare in which people, including civilians, will die. You need numbers that are not there to bring about peace."

Heitman said the M23 rebels knew the SANDF's capabilities.

"They will not pick on us. They will pick on the possible weak links - Malawi and Tanzania - who have little battle experience. They will harass, divide and conquer." He added: "They have the strong possibility of tank and special forces support."

Maria Langer, DRC country manager for International Alert - a UK "peace-building" NGO - described the security situation as critical.

"The M23 have regrouped into key areas and are recruiting civilians for the war. They are 5km from Goma and are poised to take the town.

"Not only are the M23 around, but so are 30 other rebel groups."

Langer said: "The intervention force was designed to be a persuasive and preventative force but the DRC government sees it as a military solution."

Written by GRAEME HOSKEN for Timeslive | 13 May, 2013

http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/?articleId=9054737

Thiza: A REPORT ON 1997 BY A JOURNALIST IN SIERRA LEONE AND MANY NIGERIANS WOULD DISPUTE IT:

The weekend of Friday 11 July witnessed the third serious confrontation between Nigerian (ECOMOG) troops and AFRC/RUF fighters who have recently been renamed the ‘People’s Army’. Two days earlier on Wednesday 9 July, there was a full scale battle for control of the Lungi International Airport. In a previous encounter on Monday 2 June, Nigerian troops were, by popular acclamation, given a good hiding by the junta’s militia during an all-day gun battle that ended, with a truce, after the Nigerians ran out of ammunition and the capture of over 300 of their men. During the last two clashes, however, Nigerians had the upper hand, having recently brought in fresh reinforcements of men and ammunition for their demoralised troops.

The scene of the latest battle, which continued into Monday and part of Tuesday of the following week, was at Jui, about 15 miles east of Freetown and close to Benguema, the location of one of the country’s main military training camps. Jui is host to a contingent of Nigerian troops. Nearby is Hastings with its National Police Training School, and an Airport that is currently under the control of the Peoples Army. There is a displaced persons camp close to the town. An RUF base was said to have been recently established in the area. Troops from there were deployed for the clash with the Nigerians which started after a Nigerian air force jet buzzed Freetown, flying so low that it threw the city and its outskirts into confusion and fear.

Eye witnesses told of continuous bombardment with heavy weapons and mortar fire. Civilians fled for safety, and shops and markets were closed. There were officially over 90 deaths during this battle, including civilians and a very large number of soldiers on both sides. Some reports have claimed that this figure is extremely conservative and have put the casualty as high as between 450 and 600 which, they also say, were mainly casualties of the People’s Army. But AFRC Military sources strongly denied these reports, saying they were pure propaganda and boasted that they were a match for the Nigerians. No reliable figures have been easy to come by because all sides deliberately understate their own casualties while inflating their opponent’s.

Those who were first on the scene have reported that the town was reduced to rubble and is empty after all its remaining inhabitants fled. Although calm had returned to the area by Tuesday, reporters said that the opposing armies were still in their trenches in readiness for possible renewed fighting.

Up to the time of writing this account, the ICRC was still negotiating to be allowed to enter the battleground to remove corpses for burial and the wounded for treatment. A surgeon described the victims’ bodies as "completely mangled and hardly recognisable". Casualties included policemen whose HQ was hit by a rain of missiles fired by the Nigerians, killing six of them. The AFRC claimed that in another incident a bomb dropped by a Nigerian air force jet killed a family of four in the town. The military barracks in Jui were also completely wrecked by Nigerian artillery.

The Nigerians appear also to have had the better of the clash of Wednesday 9 July for control of the Lungi International Airport. Reports said "hundreds of RUF fighters" were killed, with one quoting as many as over 300. The regime strenuously deny this but have as yet issued no casualty figures. Scores of innocent civilians also died in the crossfire. The Lungi military barracks were flattened by Nigerian battery. Lungi Town itself as well as the airport are both firmly under the control of Nigerian forces.

Fighting started after AFRC soldiers were sent to silence a pirate station which had broadcast messages by President Kabbah to the people of Sierra Leone. The finger of suspicion was pointed at the Nigerians whom the AFRC accused of facilitating and harbouring the transmitter at their base. A spokesman for the regime alleged that AFRC/RUF troops were on their way to the airport when they were engaged into an argument by Nigerian soldiers: "The Nigerians were hostile and started trading insults and then things got out of hand .. there was hand-to-hand fighting at one stage before the two sides separated and took up heavy bombardment." Another military man said that it was the Nigerians who "started attacking our men on the ground… the only thing that can bring this fight under control is for the international world to tell Nigeria to get out of our territory".

The Nigerians flatly denied these charges. ECOMOG commander General Victor Malu, speaking form Monrovia (Liberia), said "we had no reason to attack them". A statement form ECOMOG HQ in Liberia declared: "…The junta launched the fierce attack on the allegation that ECOMOG installed an FM station in Lungi. The junta’s attack was therefore aimed at destroying the station". Acting Nigerian defence spokesman Godwin Ugbo, speaking in Abuja, issued a prompt denial of the allegation that the clandestine radio station was being operated by Nigerians. He said that as far as they were concerned they did not even know of it, so the question of their funding it did not arise.

The sound of gunfire caused pandemonium in the west end of Freetown which had been tense since a speech by President Kabbah was broadcast on a pirate radio station "SLBS FM 98.1" that uses a frequency that is close to the real Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS) Radio - FM 98.99. For nearly two days after the latest fighting the radio remained silent but resumed broadcasts on the third day.

and so?....the report only tells of a hard fought battle in an enemy's territory which Nigerian troops eventually won. To show your acute daftness, Gen Malu scured the reinstatement of Alhaji Tijan Kabbah as the country's president even after the incident after the rebels have been effectively vanquished without any territory in the country. Can same be said about SANDF in CAR?

andrewza:


SA never left goma. The DRC solders left. SA was in goma and was still conducting patrol even after goma fell to M23.

I never menstioned any thing because nothing happened. M23 rocked up UN peace keepers watched them M23 never fired a shot. Rather boring.

My friend, stop playing hide-and-seek with me! go to the report again and attend to the issues i highlit specifically against all your earlier ramblings on this thread. For your sake, I will repost it again;

A 1000-strong South African contingent is expected to be deployed to the region within a month as part of an African intervention force. It will almost certainly be drawn into conflict with the heavily armed and battle-hardened M23 rebel group after the collapse of peace talks between the rebels and the central government in Kinshasa.

One of 33 rebel groups in the region, the M23 has 40t of munitions looted from DRC army armouries in clashes in the east of the country last year.

The M23 routed DRC government forces in November in a fight for the capital of the country's eastern region, Goma, where South African peacekeepers were deployed. In the battle for Goma, South African soldiers were caught by surprise and the M23 forces - whose officers have over 20 years of jungle combat experience - were able to take the town within days.

Reported to have access to T55 and T72 Soviet-era tanks, and armed with anti-tank and surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft guns, heavy machine guns, armoured vehicles and rocket-propelled grenades, the M23's 5500-strong force is in the final stages of preparing for war.

The rebels have upped their propaganda war against the South Africans since warning President Jacob Zuma last month of a "catastrophic and apocalyptic" response if the SANDF engaged them.

The group has since revealed that it plans to kidnap SANDF troops to force South Africa to about-turn on the deployment.

The rebels are said to be backed by Rwandan and Ugandan military advisers and special forces, a claim both countries deny.

In March, the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of a 3000-man intervention force to the DRC to work alongside 17000 UN peacekeepers. The intervention force, which will comprise South African, Malawian and Tanzanian troops, is expected to arrive in the DRC within a month.

As opposed to the peacekeeping force, the new intervention force's mandate will see troops being able to engage rebel forces regardless of provocation in order to bring stability to the region.

Two months ago 13 South African paratroops were killed in the battle for the Central African Republic's capital, Bangui.

South Africa's most serious military disadvantages in that battle were lack of air support and poor intelligence - the same situation now faced by the troops destined for the DRC.

The SANDF has limited heavy-lift air transport capability, its Rooivalk attack helicopters' Makopa anti-tank missiles are not yet certified, and it is most unlikely that the air force's Gripen fighter jets will be deployed to the DRC. Knowing all this, South African soldiers are gravely concerned about the impending battle.

An army officer, who has knowledge of the mission's planning, said: "We train and fight hard. We know our job and are capable, but with little air support, this fight is difficult. We learned good lessons in CAR but, make no mistake, this will not be easy.

"The M23 are well-armed and have good intelligence. They will not fight conventionally. It will be guerrilla-style attacks preying on our weaknesses, and our lack of cohesion and joint training with the other forces."

SANDF spokesman Brigadier-General Xolani Mabanga declined to comment other than to say: "We are awaiting the UN's force deployment orders."

Defence analyst Helmoed Heitman said: "The M23 are not a bunch of ragtag rebels. They are superior in their jungle-fighting capabilities with backing from neighbouring countries [that are] running proxy military forces in the region.

''Our biggest problem is lack of air capabilities. We have the Rooivalk attack helicopter and Oryx troop-carrying helicopters, but we have no proper heavy-lift transport aircraft to get our equipment and troops in and out safely.

"The Rooivalk's anti-tank missile is not certified, meaning it will have to get dangerously close to the enemy for its rockets to be effective.

"We are taking our long-range G5 cannon and various armoured vehicles but these vehicles will not withstand the M23's fire-power. Their 37mm anti-aircraft guns are lethal both to air and ground targets and they have the support of tanks and special forces."

Heitman said major hindrances included the lack of intelligence. "Our defence intelligence is what got us into trouble in CAR.

"Added to this is the UN's view that this is just another peacekeeping mission. Instead of additional forces, they divided the current peacekeeping force, transferring the South African brigade to the intervention force and creating a vacuum for the rebels to capitalise on. This is not peacekeeping. It will be aggressive counter-guerrilla warfare in which people, including civilians, will die. You need numbers that are not there to bring about peace."

Heitman said the M23 rebels knew the SANDF's capabilities.

"They will not pick on us. They will pick on the possible weak links - Malawi and Tanzania - who have little battle experience. They will harass, divide and conquer." He added: "They have the strong possibility of tank and special forces support."

Maria Langer, DRC country manager for International Alert - a UK "peace-building" NGO - described the security situation as critical.

"The M23 have regrouped into key areas and are recruiting civilians for the war. They are 5km from Goma and are poised to take the town.

"Not only are the M23 around, but so are 30 other rebel groups."

Langer said: "The intervention force was designed to be a persuasive and preventative force but the DRC government sees it as a military solution."

Written by GRAEME HOSKEN for Timeslive | 13 May, 2013

http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/?articleId=9054737

blitz8701: Its funny how now the SA media and Heitman is now all of a sudden used as referencing by nigerians, when a couple of months ago nigerians on this forum labeled both the sa media and mr heitman as full of it (propaganda that is). Well all I can say is that the media and mr heitman are nt all knowing oracles of the SANDF,we just for now need to sit back and watch what will happen when a rebel army fights a government that has many years of combat experience and air support with air servalence drones. No matter how experienced u are in so called jungle warfare if u come against an army that has an effective artillery, ul loose hundreds of fighters, they will first shell the h#ll out of u then move in to finish u off. The un is behind us and the AU. What air force does m23 have? Do they have body armor? Night vision etc? I'm nt saying SA will nt suffer casualties ofcorse they will bt SA will kill thousands of those rebels u just watch and see. I'm sure M23 is used to seeing SANDF soldiers in i riding around in white UN vehicles and poorly equipped. Now they will face special forces,fighter jets,and helicopter gun ships. I'm no expert in military stuff bt I can reason. U have to understand that SA is nt only fighting to eliminate rebel elements in the DRC which is very important ofcorse bt we are also fighting to regain our pride that we lost marginally in the car. Were fighting for our pride. In order for our troops to be respected again in africa we have to defeat these bandits.
They may have all that hard wear listed by the sunday times bt is it sustainable? Is it enough to defeat a government? We have to win this war or our foreign policy will go to the dogs.

That's all I wntd to say. If any of you choose to insult me you won't get a reply from me.

t's either your brain doesn't work or your finger has found ways to outrun it. Read through the earlier post I made and edit that thrash you posted.

andrewza:

Ease try again.

SA was part of UN. UN ROE. Fire only if fired apon. No UN forces where fired apon. Hence we could do nothing. M23 knew that.

You are not just daft, but a very dishonest person. It is the second time I am posting a documented fact for you at which you repeatedly failed to respond to the fact, but summarily slithered away from it like the snake you are.

Now I challenge you again, Andrewza, respond to the issues raised by your own SANDF officers about the incompetences of your military intelligience, Rooivak, Makopa and routing of your troops in Goma. Afterall, you have sing praises to high heavens about your "supernatural" weapons, which have just been exposed as inefficient by your own military men.

SOUTH AFRICA CAUGHT OUT N.A.KED! Andrewza come and start another round of lies to deny this coming from your own military about your ineptitude SANDF

A 1000-strong South African contingent is expected to be deployed to the region within a month as part of an African intervention force. It will almost certainly be drawn into conflict with the heavily armed and battle-hardened M23 rebel group after the collapse of peace talks between the rebels and the central government in Kinshasa.

One of 33 rebel groups in the region, the M23 has 40t of munitions looted from DRC army armouries in clashes in the east of the country last year.

The M23 routed DRC government forces in November in a fight for the capital of the country's eastern region, Goma, where South African peacekeepers were deployed. In the battle for Goma, South African soldiers were caught by surprise and the M23 forces - whose officers have over 20 years of jungle combat experience - were able to take the town within days.

Reported to have access to T55 and T72 Soviet-era tanks, and armed with anti-tank and surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft guns, heavy machine guns, armoured vehicles and rocket-propelled grenades, the M23's 5500-strong force is in the final stages of preparing for war.

The rebels have upped their propaganda war against the South Africans since warning President Jacob Zuma last month of a "catastrophic and apocalyptic" response if the SANDF engaged them.

The group has since revealed that it plans to kidnap SANDF troops to force South Africa to about-turn on the deployment.

The rebels are said to be backed by Rwandan and Ugandan military advisers and special forces, a claim both countries deny.

In March, the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of a 3000-man intervention force to the DRC to work alongside 17000 UN peacekeepers. The intervention force, which will comprise South African, Malawian and Tanzanian troops, is expected to arrive in the DRC within a month.

As opposed to the peacekeeping force, the new intervention force's mandate will see troops being able to engage rebel forces regardless of provocation in order to bring stability to the region.

Two months ago 13 South African paratroops were killed in the battle for the Central African Republic's capital, Bangui.

South Africa's most serious military disadvantages in that battle were lack of air support and poor intelligence - the same situation now faced by the troops destined for the DRC.

The SANDF has limited heavy-lift air transport capability, its Rooivalk attack helicopters' Makopa anti-tank missiles are not yet certified, and it is most unlikely that the air force's Gripen fighter jets will be deployed to the DRC. Knowing all this, South African soldiers are gravely concerned about the impending battle.

An army officer, who has knowledge of the mission's planning, said: "We train and fight hard. We know our job and are capable, but with little air support, this fight is difficult. We learned good lessons in CAR but, make no mistake, this will not be easy.

"The M23 are well-armed and have good intelligence. They will not fight conventionally. It will be guerrilla-style attacks preying on our weaknesses, and our lack of cohesion and joint training with the other forces."

SANDF spokesman Brigadier-General Xolani Mabanga declined to comment other than to say: "We are awaiting the UN's force deployment orders."

Defence analyst Helmoed Heitman said: "The M23 are not a bunch of ragtag rebels. They are superior in their jungle-fighting capabilities with backing from neighbouring countries [that are] running proxy military forces in the region.

''Our biggest problem is lack of air capabilities. We have the Rooivalk attack helicopter and Oryx troop-carrying helicopters, but we have no proper heavy-lift transport aircraft to get our equipment and troops in and out safely.

"The Rooivalk's anti-tank missile is not certified, meaning it will have to get dangerously close to the enemy for its rockets to be effective.

"We are taking our long-range G5 cannon and various armoured vehicles but these vehicles will not withstand the M23's fire-power. Their 37mm anti-aircraft guns are lethal both to air and ground targets and they have the support of tanks and special forces."

Heitman said major hindrances included the lack of intelligence. "Our defence intelligence is what got us into trouble in CAR.

"Added to this is the UN's view that this is just another peacekeeping mission. Instead of additional forces, they divided the current peacekeeping force, transferring the South African brigade to the intervention force and creating a vacuum for the rebels to capitalise on. This is not peacekeeping. It will be aggressive counter-guerrilla warfare in which people, including civilians, will die. You need numbers that are not there to bring about peace."

Heitman said the M23 rebels knew the SANDF's capabilities.

"They will not pick on us. They will pick on the possible weak links - Malawi and Tanzania - who have little battle experience. They will harass, divide and conquer." He added: "They have the strong possibility of tank and special forces support."

Maria Langer, DRC country manager for International Alert - a UK "peace-building" NGO - described the security situation as critical.

"The M23 have regrouped into key areas and are recruiting civilians for the war. They are 5km from Goma and are poised to take the town.

"Not only are the M23 around, but so are 30 other rebel groups."

Langer said: "The intervention force was designed to be a persuasive and preventative force but the DRC government sees it as a military solution."

Written by GRAEME HOSKEN for Timeslive | 13 May, 2013

http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/?articleId=9054737

Iranian Azim Aghajani convicted over Nigeria arms


An Iranian businessman has been found guilty of smuggling weapons into Lagos and sentenced to five years in prison by a Nigerian court.

Rockets and grenades were among the arms found inside 13 shipping containers of building material in 2010.

Court documents said they were due for re-export to The Gambia.

Nigerian Usman Abbas Jega was convicted alongside Azim Aghajani, alleged to be a member of the Revolutionary Guards.

They were convicted on four of five charges relating to the shipment, reports the AFP news agency.

The final destination of the weapons has not been established.

There has been speculation that they could have been intended for The Gambia's neighbour, Senegal, where there is a low-level rebellion in the south.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22515062