IMATT Remembrance in Sierra Leone

With a simple ceremony on a scorching November morning, Sierra Leone remembered the fallen. With world attention focused on current conflicts in Afghanistan and elsewhere, it might be easy to forget the United Kingdom's ongoing missions in other parts of the world.

But on Armistice Day, an international gathering in Sierra Leone paid tribute to those in the British Army who gave their lives helping the country recover from one of Africa's bloodiest wars.

UK and Canadian troops and civilians were joined by officers from the staff college of the Republic of Sierra Leone's Armed Forces (RSLAF) in paying tribute to those lost in the UK's involvement there since Op PALLISER in 2000.

The International Military Assistance Training Team (IMATT (SL)) was established in 2002 following the end of war and disarmament of rebels by the UN in Sierra Leone.

The IMATT remains a tangible presence in Sierra Leone, it's continuing mission to help nurture a skilled armed forces capable of carrying out its country's defence missions and contributing to internal and regional stability.

Signs that the years of conflict have long passed are everywhere. The UN recently recalled the last of its peacekeepers, who had been providing security for the courts. Meanwhile the next presidential, parliamentary and local elections are scheduled for 17 November 2012.

However, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th year of the century, the soldiers and officers of RSLAF and IMATT recalled times when Sierra Leone's future seemed much less bright.

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News & Politics

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• british army
• sierra leone
• soldiers
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• international
• military
• assistance
• training
• team
• IMATT
• Africa