Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Families along The Gambia’s southern border are fleeing their homes as violence from Senegal’s Casamance region spills into Gambian territory, leaving communities gripped by fear and uncertainty. Lawmakers in the National Assembly have raised urgent concerns over the humanitarian and national security implications of the unfolding crisis.
The issue was brought before the Assembly by Hon. Almameh Gibba, Member for Foni Kansala, who described the situation as a “grave national concern” affecting the peace, safety, and dignity of Gambian citizens living along the border.
Hon. Gibba told lawmakers that the conflict began on March 12 following an armed confrontation between the Senegalese Armed Forces and elements of the separatist Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC). According to him, the violence has since intensified along the Casamance–Gambia border.
“Villages including Jakin, Kayenga, Kamosor, Batenden, Ajapina, and Jifang have been forced into displacement,” he said. “These are not statistics; they are Gambian families leaving their homes, their farms, and their livelihoods in search of safety.”
Many of the affected families have fled to neighboring communities such as Sibanor, Tampoto, and Kabokor, while others have sought refuge within Foni Kansala in villages including Dobong, Burok, Sangayor, Kurundulai, and Jomokunda.
Hon. Gibba further reported that schools in the affected border communities remain closed and that residents were unable to observe Eid-ul-Fitr prayers, a sacred period of unity and gratitude for Muslims.
The Foni Kansala lawmaker also condemned a recent press release by the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Coordinating Centre (NCCRM), accusing the agency of misrepresenting the affected villages as being located in Casamance.
“This is false and misleading. These are Gambian villages, and their people deserve recognition and protection as citizens of this country,” he said.
The Assembly was also informed that stray bullets from the ongoing clashes have crossed into Gambian territory. In Sibanor, a family compound was reportedly struck, causing property damage and instilling fear among residents, though no casualties were reported.
Other villages, including Kaimo, Siwol, Kayenga, Janag, Uppart, and Jifang, were said to be experiencing sporadic gunfire, forcing more families to move deeper into Foni for safety.
Citing Section 213(1) of the 1997 Constitution, which mandates the protection of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Hon. Gibba called on the President and national security agencies to urgently engage their Senegalese counterparts to prevent further incursions into Gambian territory.
He also urged the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to displaced families, including food, shelter, and other essential services.
The motion was seconded by the Member for Foni Bintang, who criticized what he described as the government’s silence despite continued cross-border bombardments. He also rejected allegations that residents in the area were harboring rebels, insisting that the state has a duty to protect Gambian citizens along the border.
Lawmakers stressed that urgent action is required to safeguard lives and uphold The Gambia’s sovereignty.
“Our people are looking to us for protection, for leadership, and for reassurance that their lives matter,” Hon. Gibba said. “We must not fail them.”
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