By Makutu Manneh
The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) has concluded its joint field training exercise called ‘Exercise Kansala 2024’, with combat drills and other military displays.
‘Exercise Kansala 2024’ is a joint field training exercise meant to train and prepare personnel in internal security and counter-insurgency operations. The displays involve improvised explosive device (IED) disposal, fighting in built-up areas (FIBUA) on enemy command posts, martial arts, VIP protection, reacting to ambush, entering and clearing a room, and public order management among others.
The exercise involved the participation of personnel of the Gambia National Army, Gambia Navy, Republican National Guards, Defence Headquarters Camp, The Gambia Armed Forces Training School, Gambia Police Force, State Intelligence Service, Gambia Immigration Department, Drug Law Enforcement Agency the Gambia, and the Gambia Fire and Rescue Service.
Hamat N.K. Bah, the Minister of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs who represented President Adama Barrow at the event, commended CDS Cham and the team for a laudable initiative, especially by including their sister security services and agencies in such an exercise.
“The inclusion of all the actors in the security landscape of this country is a necessary imperative and the right way forward if we want to continue to nurture and sustain our democracy,” Bah said as he read President Barrow’s speech.
On behalf of the president, he informed the security forces that the government will continue to support the reform and transformation of the security services and agencies through meaningful training, stressing that the aim is to ensure that servicing one’s country becomes relatively more rewarding and worthwhile.
Lieutenant General Mamat O. Cham, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) said the exercise is part of his agenda to train the armed forces and equip and motivate them to perform their constitutional roles both at home and abroad.
“We remain committed to those words and this is the mantra that will be the guarding light of the armed forces here and henceforth. To realise this generational paradigm shift in defence and security thinking, we echoed our leadership of the armed forces through mission command in the concepts of capacity building, confidence building, and cooperation,” CDS Cham said.
He added that the rigorous drills and scenarios they have undertaken during ‘‘Exercise Kansala 2024’’, are meant to recalibrate the doctrinal thinking of the armed forces.
CDS Cham said the exercise has not only tested their physical capabilities, but has given them mental fortitude, and has also presented them with an opportunity to understudy the inherent gaps in their state of preparedness and readiness.
Brigadier General Sait Njie, Commander of The Gambia National Army, told the gathering that they have successfully put their troops through a demanding set of scenarios designed to enhance their operational readiness for any real scenarios in the future. He concludes that ‘‘Exercise Kansala 2024’’ was more than just an avenue for them to practice routine military tactics and operations, because it was a great opportunity to assess and enhance soldiers’ physical and mental capabilities.
