Marcel Alain de Souza, the President of the ECOWAS Commission has issued a strong assurance message saying the troops that where deployed under the ECOWAS Military Intervention In Gambia (ECOMIG) to remove former dictator Yahya Jammeh from power, will remain and secure the Gambian territory for a given period.
He made the revelation on Saturday, January 21, 2017, during a visit to the headquarters of the High Command of the ECOMIG Forces in Senegal.
“We are certain that there are secret weapons depots and we have consequently included the search of such weapons to ECOMIG mission. That’s why ECOWAS forces will secure the Gambian capital and the Gambian territory for a given necessary time. We will look for hidden weapons and mercenaries will be whisked away to create a true situation of tranquility, to secure the return of populations who fear reprisals and to ensure that the country regain its national unity” he said.
The ECOWAS chief congratulated the West African Forces engaged in the restoration of democracy in The Gambia for the professionalism, sincerity and efficiency in the conduct of such operations. He reiterated the support and encouragement of all ECOWAS institutions and urged them to remain vigilant in securing their positions.
Souza used the opportunity to praise the extra-ordinary leadership of the ECOWAS Heads of States and Governments, all presidential mediation missions as well as the leaders of the friendly countries of ECOWAS who contributed to the peaceful settlement of the post-election crisis in The Gambia.
He paid particular tribute to the Nigerian, Senegalese and Ghanaian Armed Forces for the provision of troops and logistics for the operations. He also thanked Senegalese President Macky Sall for the warm welcome given to the troops of the ECOWAS Mission to The Gambia and all the facilities for the smooth conduct of the operations.
Meanwhile, Halifa Sallah, the spokesperson of the Gambia’s new coalition government has also spoken at a press conference today to assure the people that the forces are not in the country for invasion but to work together with their Gambian counterparts to sanitize the country’s entire territory especially, the State House which is the seat of the presidency.
