October 30, 2000

The UN has decided to expand the "peacekeeping" force in Sierra Leone from 12,440 to 20,500 (including three new infantry battalions). Most of the extra troops would be headquarters, support, and aviation units. The force is tasked to "when necessary, decisively counter" the activities of the RUF rebels. This will include "responding robustly to any hostile actions or threat of imminent and direct use of force". Each infantry battalion is to be deployed in a district, conducting patrols and convoy escort missions. The British are training the new Sierra Leonean Army, which will have three infantry brigades with a total of 8,500 troops, and have now decided to keep their trainers in the country well into 2001.--Stephen V Cole