Khareen Pech and Mail & Guardian reporters
The deportation to South Africa this week of five mercenaries from Namibia has focused attention on the spread of former South African soldiers throughout the region. The five, who were not immediately named, reportedly arrived in Namibia on Monday as a security detail to embattled President Pascal Lissouba of Congo (Brazzaville). Namibian authorities said the men had not followed correct procedures when they entered the country.
Some reports said the men worked for South Africas Executive Outcomes, but the mercenary outfits Nic van den Berg denied them, saying they may be former employees presenting themselves as current employees.
Africa Confidential reported in June that former South African Defence Force officer Ian Liebenberg had been hired by Lissouba to provide military services, and that Liebenberg had helped Lissouba buy South African arms and armoured vehicles.
Meanwhile, South Africas professional soldiers are striking new deals in Africa before the long-awaited anti-mercenary Bill becomes effective in 1998.
South Africans are currently alleged to be providing private military support to government and rebel forces in Uganda, Sudan, Tanzania, Congo (Brazzaville), Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Several foreign military assistance deals were struck between South African-based companies and African parties after the introduction of the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Bill in August by Kader Asmal as chair of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee.
One such arrangement has resulted in the deployment of over 200 South African mercenaries in Angola in the past month, according to private military sources.
Unita and MPLA forces have struck deals with South African groups, these sources report.