Press release:
The Gambia Action Party is committed to the security of our nation and we are conscious of the fact that the recent joint communiqué from the Ecowas leaders to have extended the mandate of Ecomig forces in The Gambia for another twelve months with new detachments due in The Gambia from Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo and Ghana with policing roles.
As an institution directly with the people, GAP has taken a preceding view and approached the oval office [sic] to provide sufficient justification that warrants the extension of the Ecomig forces and we were referred to the Minister of Interior. We believe in the method of dialogue and not insurgent [sic] behaviour that will further polarise our nation.
Since the very beginning of GAP, we promised to safeguard the security system of The Gambia and the recent decision made by our government does not only position the nation into fragility or brittleness but created fear and uncertainty surrounding our people and places our sovereignty to a possible adverse outcome that could be perilous in future.
In our recommendations shared with the Minister of Interior, we urged the government of The Gambia to be committal to security security reform as no earnest action is made necessary [sic] to implement the reform agendas and the current state of The Gambia is not a post-conflict scenario that allows military intervention. We called the attention of the government for its failure to ensure parliamentary approval or writ as a body directly representing the public interest. On the equally footing [sic], we recommended for the arrival of security personnel from Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone for being in the Commonwealth with The Gambia and practices the same criminal justice act to provide for compensation if some specified cases or risks occur and that differs from the procedures in Senegal, Togo and Ivory Coast.
Their policing mandate order shall be in derivation of the Inspector General of The Gambia Police Force[sic] to shape their operations without infringement on the sovereign owners of The Gambia when the service is required. We urged the government to restore the sovereignty and be versatile enough to condemn acts that contravene our peaceful coexistence. We recommended for dialogue with all the relevant stakeholders and the party leaders inclusive on the national discourse and ceaselessly communicate to the people on all the latest developments. The stabilisation of The Gambia must be considered by all and sundry as we are conscious of how divisiveness led to the destruction in many parts of Africa, The Gambia will not trend on such trajectory.
We are conscious of the roles played by the Ecomig forces after the 2016 presidential election and remain grateful for the support as a party and nation, we recommended for their withdrawal tactics [sic] which should have been done in the first year of President Barrow in office. We are calling on all the Ecowas leaders to remain in the service of the sub-region and not consolidation of self perpetuating cultures in governance or a perceived standard of higher behaviour for going against the will of the people. The recent political turmoil in Guinea Conakry and Ivory Coast clearly substantiate this claim and evidence based enough for military intervention but why Gambia?
We call on all the political leaders and their surrogates to maintain law and order, protect our jovial relationship as we venture into an election year. History will assess every Gambian based on patriotic efforts geared towards national unity and oneness. In 2021, the future of our nation lies in the hands of sixteen people and must all be responsible enough to avoid a replica of 2016.
We thank the government to have given us the chance and outlined our recommendations that could possibly avert the security threats surrounding our nation. It’s time to rethink and rebuild our homeland.
Secretary general and party leader of GAP
Hon Musa Ousainou Yali Batchilly.
