In 1996, after three years in Angola, Jones was posted to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he served as Deputy High Commissioner.
[1] After four years in Dar es Salaam, Jones was appointed High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, succeeding Peter Penfold in early May 2000.
[1] On 6 May 2000—less than a week into Jones' term in Sierra Leone[2][3]—rebel fighters belonging to the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) blocked the road connecting the capital, Freetown, to the country's main airport, Lungi.
Five soldiers were eventually released through negotiation, but—as concerns for the remaining six mounted—Jones was granted political authority to order a rescue operation in an emergency.
[7] Jones continued to serve in both posts until 2003, and in 2004 was appointed High Commissioner to Belize, succeeding Philip Priestley.