Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
South Africa’s Defence Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, ordered arrest of the South African ex soldiers going to render help to Nigeria with Boko Haram fight, upon their return.
AllAfrica reports with reference to Beeld that the official made this known January 28, Thursday. The minister called such soldiers “mercenaries”.
Her words:
“There are consequences when somebody leaves the country and provides any form of military assistance that is not part of the government’s deployment.”
Beeld explains that a multinational team of over 100 private military experts was heading to Nigeria for the battle against insurgency. In this group, the core was composed of the ex soldiers of the South Africa’s Defence Force.
The team leader however said they were not mercenaries, but would provide training in terms of a contract with the Nigerian government.
Mapisa-Nqakula said neither SA Defence staff nor weapons were officially requested for assistance and expressed disappointment at the South Africans’ involvement.
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