The Unforgettable Saga of Sierra Leone” written by the Former Force Commander, Lieutenant General V K Jetley, who raised the UN Mission in Sierra Leone from scratch, examines the systemic UN drawbacks that result in many UN Missions failing. Facing Impossible odds, the system results in more failures than successes.
NEW DELHI, March 25, 2025 – A powerful new critique of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations hits shelves today with the release of “The Unforgettable Saga of Sierra Leone”, written by the Force Commander who navigated the Mission from the depths of despair to the pinnacle of success. Personally planning, conducting and participating in a number of military operations including the world famous “Operation Khukri”- the daring operation conducted in May 2000, that rescued hundreds of peacekeepers surrounded by ruthless rebels, the Force Commander recounts in graphic details the nitty gritty of such complicated military operations.
The author’s first-hand account exposes fundamental flaws in the UN system detailing how peacekeepers, lacking adequate equipment and training, were deployed in far flung remote areas without support. The book raises urgent questions about the UN’s ability to effectively execute its mandate in conflict zones and its continued relevance in its present avatar.
“Rebels from the Revolutionary United Front attacked my troops on 1st May 2000. Subsequently, between 2nd and 3rd May 2000, rebels captured a large number of my troops and surrounded many others. During this period, we faced not just the physical enemy but also the consequence of institutional failures,” writes the author. “Acute command and control problems, parallel chains of command and Regional and International political maneuvering nearly cost a hundred lives and almost spelt the doom of the Mission.”
“Operation Khukri” serves as the dramatic centerpiece of the narrative, illustrating how a multinational force was honed into a formidable fighting machine that overcame seemingly unsurmountable challenges through “meticulous planning, bold execution, determination and fortitude.” The author provides in his book an unprecedented insight into the strategic decisions made under extreme pressure when Kenyan, Zambian and Indian peacekeepers found themselves under attack in Sierra Leone’s most remote areas.
Beyond military strategy and tactics, the book delivers a scathing analysis of why the UN consistently struggles to secure well- equipped and properly trained troops for Missions where active combat is anticipated. It also highlights the regional and international interests that influenced and often impacted the operational effectiveness of the Mission to Sierra Leone.
“This is not merely a historical account of a UN Peacekeeping Mission,” noted the publisher. “It is a critical examination of peacekeeping philosophy of the UN, written by someone who experienced the onslaught of the rebels and the consequences of systemic failures first hand- but still managed to turn the Mission around from its nadir to the zenith of success.
“The Unforgettable Saga of Sierra Leone” is now available at major book stores and on Amazon
