Canada's Limited Involvement in Sierra Leone Conflict

Prime Minister Jean Chretien has announced that Canada will provide technical assistance to UN peacekeepers in Sierra Leone, while ruling out the deployment of Canadian ground troops. Canadian officials have also pledged to provide 1,700 helmets and 1,700 flak jackets for the UN Mission in Sierra Leone. In a meeting with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chretien emphasized that countries in the region, like Nigeria, were more involved in the conflict and that Canada did not want to step in.

Key Takeaways:

• Canada has committed to providing technical assistance to UN peacekeepers in Sierra Leone, but will not deploy ground troops.
• Canada has already committed an Airbus military transport plane to ferry UN troops from India and Bangladesh to Sierra Leone.
• Two senior Canadian military officers will assist at the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and Canada has offered to sponsor two more from other countries.
• Canadian officials have pledged to provide 1,700 helmets and 1,700 flak jackets for the UN Mission in Sierra Leone.
• Ottawa has also pledged $3.4 million in emergency aid to Sierra Leone.
• The total amount Ottawa has committed for the West African country since July 1999 is nearly $9.4 million.
• Canadian Defense Minister Art Eggleton stated that the Canadian military was "overextended" in providing troops for peacekeeping missions around the world.

Statistics:

• 1,700 helmets to be provided for the UN Mission in Sierra Leone.
• 1,700 flak jackets to be provided for the UN Mission in Sierra Leone.
• $3.4 million in emergency aid committed by Canada for Sierra Leone.
• $9.4 million total amount committed by Ottawa for Sierra Leone since July 1999.

Sources:

• "Canada to Contribute to UN Peacekeepers in Sierra Leone," UPI, Canada, May 12.