Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), Lieutenant General Mamat O. Cham, returned from a week-long working and friendly visit to the Republic of Senegal on Friday, September 27, 2024. The visit, which marked General Cham’s maiden trip to Senegal in his official capacity, was at the invitation of his Senegalese counterpart, Lieutenant General Mbaye Cisse.

The invitation followed Lieutenant General Cisse’s visit to The Gambia in November 2023, during which both military chiefs emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral defense cooperation.

General Cham, accompanied by a high-ranking delegation that included Brigadier General Sait Njie, Army Commander, and other senior officers of the GAF, was warmly received upon arrival at the Dial-Diop military camp by Lieutenant General Cisse. After formal honors were paid, the Gambian CDS laid a wreath at Senegal’s war memorial in the presence of top Senegalese military officers and officials, underscoring

the solemnity of his visit.

Following this, General Cham held strategic talks with Lieutenant General Cisse and toured key Senegalese military institutions. These included visits to the External Operations Museum, the Army-Nation Museum, and the Senegal Defense Institute, where the Gambian delegation was briefed on the operations and historical significance of these institutions.

General Cham’s itinerary also included a high-profile meeting with Air Force General Birame Diop, Senegal’s Minister of the Armed Forces, on the same day. On September 25, the Gambian delegation traveled to Thiès, where they visited Senegal’s prestigious Cadet Officers Military Academy (ENOA), where two Gambian cadet officers are currently undergoing training. The delegation also made a stop at the Senegal Air Force Academy.

On the morning of September 26, the Gambian officials were welcomed at Senegal’s Army Social Center and National Navy. Later that day, General Cham visited the Admiral Faye Gassama Naval Base, where Rear Admiral Abdou Sene, head of the Senegalese Navy, received him. General Cham attended a presentation on the French Navy’s collaboration with Senegal and toured the patrol boat “Niani.”

The visit’s overall aim was to strengthen the already cordial relationship between the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) and the Senegalese Armed Forces (SAF), solidifying their commitment to regional security cooperation. General Cham’s four-day visit reaffirmed the bonds between the two nations, building on General Cisse’s 2023 visit to The Gambia, during which both military chiefs renewed their pledge to enhance bilateral defense partnerships.

This latest engagement underscores the growing military cooperation between the two West African nations and highlights the increasing role of defense diplomacy in fostering regional security and stability.