: Zambia to send 700 Soldiers to Sierra Leone

The Zambian government is to send about 700 soldiers to Sierra Leone in December this year when the term for its first contingent of troops expires, the ‘Sunday Times of Zambia’ quoted the Defence Minister Chitalu Sampa as saying at the weekend. The minister was quoted as saying that his government would soldier on despite India’s pull-out as it had the obligation to contribute towards the maintenance of peace throughout the continent and beyond. “We will in December this year send about 700 other soldiers to replace those who are there. Every six months we have to change and send other soldiers,” Sampa said. The minister reiterated that the Zambian government would continue contributing to the UN programmes and retain its presence until the UN mission ended in Sierra Leone. The Indian government said recently that India would pull out its troops including Commander Vijay Jetley from the peace mission after almost two years of service. There are currently 3,059 Indian soldiers in Sierra Leone, making it the second biggest contingent in the entire force.