British Defence Secretary Geoffrey Hoon arrived in Freetown on Wednesday for a two-day visit during which he will inspect British troops and view progress made in training the new Sierra Leonean army, a British Ministry of Defence spokesman told IRIN.
“He is also due to meet the president and restate Britain’s continued support,” the spokesman said.
Hoon is scheduled to visit the 2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles, who are training the local military, and the commander of British forces in Sierra Leone, Brigadier Jonathan Riley. He will also visit the Sierra Leone army’s 5th Brigade at Masiaka, and UNAMSIL civil and military officials.
Britain has already trained some 6,500 Sierra Leonean troops and is due tofinish training another 1,500 by the end of September.
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