By Essa Jallow,
just back from MFDC base
Almost a week since last Monday’s bloody clash between its forces and the Senegalese contingent of Ecomig, separatist movement MFDC yesterday released two dead Ecomig soldiers on humanitarian grounds to Ecowas officials at their base deep in the Casamance jungle.
According to our special envoy, Essa Jallow who was given access to the rebel base, the MFDC further revealed that they have 7 Senegalese Ecomig soldiers with them whom they will only release on ‘certain conditions’.
They did not however say what those conditions are.
According to MFDC, the release of the dead bodies formed part of a successful negotiation led by Ecowas and comprising Gambian authorities among others.
The Gambia Armed Forces too were present on a fact-finding mission led by Captain Faring Sanyang. The negotiation that lasted hours culminated in the signing of an agreement between the MFDC and the negotiators.
Speaking in Mandinka after reading out the agreement, MFDC leader Salif Sadio demanded the Gambia government to withdraw Ecomig soldiers from Bwiam, warning that any repetition of Monday’s incident could be more disastrous.
The MFDC also claimed none of their fighters is dead or missing.
