Regional block Ecowas has vowed to support The Gambia government in ensuring the security and protection of all Gambians.
In a statement issued on the recent violent confrontation between its forces and residents of Kanilai, Ecowas called for restraint as investigations into the matter go on.
The full statement is reproduced below:
The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has learnt with great concern, of the violent incident which occurred on the 2nd June 2017 involving some residents of Kanilai (119 km to the East of Banjul City) and the ECOWAS intervention force in Gambia (ECOMIG). The incident apparently resulted in one fatality and five people wounded.
The Commission reaffirms its commitment to support the Gambian Government in ensuring the security and protection of all Gambians. In this regard, it is noteworthy that the mandate of ECOMIG to support the Gambian Government stabilize the fragile security situation in the country, was extended for a year at the last Summit of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government which held in Monrovia on 4 June 2017.
Pending the findings of the investigation initiated by the Gambian authorities concerning the incident, the ECOWAS Commission calls for calm and restraint which will allow for national reconciliation and the entrenchment of sustainable peace in The Gambia. The ECOWAS Commission strongly condemns all forms of violence, presents its condolences to the family of the victim and wishes those injured a swift and complete recovery.
