Friday, January 30, 2015

South Africa to Arrest Mercenaries Fighting in Nigeria against Boko Haram

1/30/2015

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa is planning to arrest a group of mercenaries fighting alongside the Nigerian Army against the Boko Haram Jihadist group, South African Defense Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula warned on Thursday.

“There are consequences when somebody leaves the country and provides any form of military assistance that is not part of the government’s deployment,” the South African official said.

At the request of the Nigerian government, several South African ex-military personnel have been training Nigerian soldiers to fight Boko Haram, according to local daily newspaper, Beeld.

Mapisa-Nqakula trusted that their arrest when they return to South Africa will send a message to all South Africans who are serving as soldiers for hire.

The South African Act of Military Assistance Abroad prevents its citizens from participating in wars in other countries, unless they are acting under the authority of the government in Pretoria.

Former members of the South African military have been involved as mercenaries in armed conflicts in countries such as Angola, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

In 2004, a group of mercenaries attempted to lead the failed coup against the dictator of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema.

In addition, soldiers for hire offer protection and security services to private individuals in countries like Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

After the last war in Gaza, South African authorities warned of possible legal procedures that may be taken against South African citizens with Israeli citizenship who fought for the Israeli Army.

Weakened by corruption and a lack of political will and organization, the Nigerian Army has been unable to cope with the attacks of Boko Haram in the north of the African country, where the group seeks to establish an Islamic fundamentalist state. 


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