By Lamin Njie
President Adama Barrow has appointed Colonel Ousman Gomez as the new commander of the Gambia National Army, replacing General Mamat Cham.
Gen Cham got elevated to the coveted position of deputy chief of defence staff last month following the removal of powerful military leader Masanneh Kinteh.
Colonel Gomez’ appointment comes alongside that of Colonels Turo Jawneh and Sait Njie. Jawneh is the new head of the Republican National Guards while Njie is the new commander of State Guards Battalion.
Colonel Gomez was the head of the military police. The trained lawyer also held the role of legal adviser in the army.
Colonel Turo Jawneh has been the head of State Guard Battalion since his return to the army back in 2017. He’s now been tapped for the role of commander of the new Republican National Guards.
Colonel Sait Njie, the director of training in the army is now the new head of State Guards Battalion.
Njie was the commander of 1st Infantry Battalion who won admiration during the political impasse of 2017 when he dramatically pledged allegiance to the new government and set out to the border with a platoon to meet ECOMIG soldiers as they arrived in the country to ensure President Barrow is installed.
