TheDay They Ate The Zoo is James Ellery’s record of his senior military UN appointmentsin two of Africa’s most volatile and violent countries – written with insight,honesty and a light touch. In1999, after a successful career in the Army, Ellery was chosen to establish anew UN mission in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo. With nations fromacross the continent fighting for a share in the country’s vast mineral wealth,it required all of James’s diplomatic and military skills to ensure the missionwas a success – in spite of the machinations of the Congolese authorities. Lessthan two years later, Ellery was selected for another demanding appointment inAfrica – this time in Sierra Leone. His candid despatches document his time as Chiefof Staff of the 17,500 strong UN peacekeeping force. As the country strove toright itself after a decade of civil war, James played a pivotal role in ensuringfree and fair democratic elections and bringing the major players to book inthe Special Court for Sierra Leone.