Troop Withdrawal From Mali - Nigeria Petitions UN Chief ....Contrary to the misconception that the Federal Government of Nigeria is withdrawing its troops from the United Nations, UN, peace-keeping force in Mali because of pressing security challenges at home, Sunday Vanguard has authoritatively learnt that the action is a protest against the UN for naming a Rwandan army general as the force commander instead of a Nigerian officer. The Rwandan is 50-year-old General Jean-Bosco Kazura and he has been appointed to command the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Nigeria's Major General Shehu Abdulkadir, who was the force commander of African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) from inception in January 2013, was said to have come out tops in the interview for the appointment of the force commander but was sidelined, a source said. This is the first time Nigeria would be unilaterally recalling its troops from any UN operations. Nigeria is the fourth largest troop contributing country under the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations - and no Nigerian has had any appointment as force commander in any of the UN peace keeping missions.

allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Troop Withdrawal From Mali - Nigeria Petitions UN Chief: "Nigeria is the fourth largest troop contributing country under the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations - and no Nigerian has had any appointment as force commander in any of the UN peace keeping missions." CLICK LINK TO READ MORE

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