 The following year, he was called out of retirement to act as the UN secretary general's personal observer in Rhodesia, when discussions began to end Ian Smith's unilateral declaration of independence.In 1989 the UN created the United Nations Transition Assistance Group to oversee the withdrawal of South African forces from Namibia and ensure free elections.At the behest of the members funding most of the mission, the original 7,500 troops envisaged in the initial deployment was cut down to 4,650.