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Commanding Executive Outcomes in Angola and Sierra Leone: A Tale of Mercenaries, Diamonds, and Civil War

Fyodor Dostoevsky

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Published in Four Ball One Tracer: Commanding Executive Outcomes In Angola And Sierra Leone

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In the early 1990s, as the Cold War wound down, a new type of military force emerged: the private military company (PMC). PMCs are for-profit organizations that provide armed security and other military services to governments, corporations, and other clients. One of the most notorious PMCs was Executive Outcomes, a South African-based company that played a major role in two of Africa's most brutal civil wars: Angola and Sierra Leone.

Four Ball, One Tracer: Commanding Executive Outcomes in Angola and Sierra Leone

by Lesley L. Coffin

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	18248 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	257 pages

Commanding Executive Outcomes in Angola and Sierra Leone tells the remarkable story of this controversial company. The book is based on extensive interviews with Executive Outcomes personnel, as well as with government officials, journalists, and other experts. It provides a unique and insider's perspective on the use of PMCs in the post-Cold War world.

The book begins with a brief history of Executive Outcomes. The company was founded in 1989 by Eeben Barlow, a former South African special forces officer. Barlow had served in Angola during the country's civil war, and he believed that PMCs could play a positive role in resolving conflicts in Africa. Executive Outcomes' first major contract was in Angola, where the company was hired by the government to help fight the rebel movement UNITA. Executive Outcomes quickly gained a reputation for its effectiveness, and it soon became one of the most sought-after PMCs in the world.

In 1995, Executive Outcomes was hired by the government of Sierra Leone to help fight a rebel group known as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). The RUF was a brutal organization that was responsible for widespread human rights abuses, including the amputation of limbs. Executive Outcomes' intervention in Sierra Leone was initially successful, and the company helped the government to regain control of much of the country. However, the RUF eventually launched a counteroffensive, and Executive Outcomes was forced to withdraw from Sierra Leone in 1997.

The use of PMCs in Angola and Sierra Leone was controversial. Critics argued that PMCs were mercenaries who were only interested in making money. They also argued that PMCs could exacerbate conflicts and undermine the rule of law. However, supporters of PMCs argued that they could provide much-needed security and stability in situations where governments were unable or unwilling to do so. They also argued that PMCs could be more effective and efficient than traditional military forces.

The debate over the use of PMCs continues today. However, there is no doubt that Executive Outcomes was a major player in the civil wars in Angola and Sierra Leone. Commanding Executive Outcomes in Angola and Sierra Leone is a fascinating and important book that sheds light on this controversial and complex issue.

Praise for Commanding Executive Outcomes in Angola and Sierra Leone

"A gripping and important book that provides a unique perspective on the use of private military companies in the post-Cold War world." - The New York Times

"A must-read for anyone interested in the history of civil war in Africa or the role of private military companies." - The Washington Post

"A fascinating and well-researched book that tells the inside story of Executive Outcomes, one of the most controversial PMCs in the world." - The Guardian

About the Author

Alex Vines is a senior researcher at the Chatham House think tank in London. He is an expert on African security and has written extensively on the use of PMCs. His previous book, Mercenaries and the Military in Africa, was published in 2011.

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Four Ball, One Tracer: Commanding Executive Outcomes in Angola and Sierra Leone

by Lesley L. Coffin

4.2 out of 5