By Makutu Manneh
On Friday, 4 October 2024, President Barrow presented certificates of appreciation to eighty (80) ECOMIG soldiers leaving the country this week.
The troop, which comprises Senegalese soldiers only, will be replaced by another troop of soldiers from the same country.
During the farewell ceremony, President Barrow thanked Senegal and ECOWAS for deploying soldiers to the Gambia in order to support the country’s democratic dispensation. He equally wished the soldiers blessing and progress in their future endeavors back home and thanked them for peacefully serving in the Gambia.
“While your mission will come to an end, our relationship with Senegal will continue,” the president said, expressing gratitude to President Diomaye Faye and the people of Senegal for the support rendered to the troops during their stay in The Gambia, during the past three years.
ECOMIG is a peace keeping force in The Gambia and consist of member states of ECOWAS.
The mission, which is also known as ‘Operation Restore Democracy’, mainly includes soldiers from Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria. Last year, during the 64th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS in Abuja, the Authority of Heads of States and Governments extended the mandate of the ECOMIG mission in The Gambia to one more year.
However, the mandate of the ECOMIG mission in the Gambia is to expire next December, this year.
