Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The government cannot, for the moment, give the National Assembly a clear timeline for the withdrawal of ECOMIG forces from The Gambia, raising fresh questions over how long foreign troops are expected to remain deployed in the country.
A National Assembly member has questioned why ECOMIG forces remain deployed in The Gambia, pressing the government to explain when the regional security mission is expected to end.
The Member for Central Badibou raised the issue during proceedings, seeking clarity on the duration and terms of the deployment.
Responding, Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow said there is no fixed date for the withdrawal of the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG), stressing that its continued presence is subject to periodic assessment by the regional bloc.
The Vice President said ECOWAS conducts annual assessments to determine whether the mission is still required.
“If the need no longer exists, they will be withdrawn through the appropriate channel,” he said.
The lawmaker pressed further, asking whether the arrangement was subject to a specific timeframe, arguing that an open-ended assessment could leave the duration of the deployment dependent on changing circumstances.
Jallow clarified that ECOMIG is not a bilateral security arrangement between The Gambia and Senegal. Rather, he said, it is a multilateral ECOWAS mission involving contingents from Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana.
He said the ultimate decision on whether the forces should remain in The Gambia rests with ECOWAS, based on its assessment of the mission’s continued necessity.
The exchange highlighted continued questions in parliament over the mandate, duration, and role of foreign security forces deployed in The Gambia.
Leave a Reply