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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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ECOMIG extended to one year

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The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) said it has extended the mandate of its military mission in The Gambia.
The force, consisting mainly of soldiers from neighbouring Senegal, was first sent to the small country in January to compel longstanding president Yahya Jammeh to relinquish power to his elected successor Adama Barrow.
At a weekend summit in the Liberian capital Monrovia, the 15-nation body commended the “crucial role” played by the mission in keeping The Gambia secure but leaders took note of “the fragile situation” in the country and extended the mission for 12 months.
They also broadened the mandate of the force known as Ecomig to include support for training Gambian armed forces and urged other Ecowas members to contribute additional troops.
The Ecowas statement issued overnight Sunday made no mention of tension between the foreign troops and Gambian protesters who have called them “an occupying force”, notably in Jammeh’s native region about 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of the capital Banjul.
After a clash on Friday when Ecomig troops faced a violent demonstration, one protester died of gunshot wounds and several were injured, according to the interior minister and details given by a local resident.
Dailymail

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