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The Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) are making final preparations for their deployment as part of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Force (ESF) to Lungi, Port Loko in Northwest Sierra Leone.
GAF’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Colonel Lamin Sanyang confirmed that a total of 136 personnel from the Gambian Army will form part of the contingent.
“A total number of 136 personnel comprising 100 troops plus 35 personnel from the Gambian Armed Forces Communications Unit plus one officer from the Intelligence Corps will make up this contingent that will deployed in Sierra Leone very shortly,” Colonel Sanyang said.
Last month, Gambia’s Parliament approved the deployment of their forces as part of their commitment to the ESF’s drive to stabilise democracy in West Africa with the spate of military coups in the sub-region.
“Whereas we acknowledge the security of the situation in Sierra Leone and recognise the importance of upholding Democratic principles, stability and regional peace, the president urgently requests the approval of this Assembly for the deployment of Gambia troops to Sierra Leone pursuant to Section 188(4) of the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia,” Gambians Vice-President, Muhammad Jallow said while presenting the bill to Parliament.
The GAF deployment will be the first of many who pledged their support for the ESF earlier this year when ECOWAS military heads met in Abuja, Nigeria.
