/ 22 July 1999

EW ECOMOG CHIEF

A SENIOR Nigerian army officer has been appointed as the new commander of Ecomog, the West African regional intervention force in Sierra Leone. Brigadier General Gabriel Kpemba, formerly of the directorate of operations at the army headquarters, replaces Major General Felix Mujakpero, who was Ecomog commander for six months. Nigeria has the largest contingent in the 10000-strong regional force. According to a statement by the defence headquarters in Lagos, the change in Ecomog command is part of a major redeployment of some 191 senior Nigerian military officers. Mujakpero is now to head the directorate of training and doctrine command of the Nigerian army.