By Lamin Sanyang
The last contingent of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) who recently returned from the Darfur Region are bitterly complaining about their peacekeeping allowances.
It is reported that the soldiers are still not paid after returning to the country more than a week ago. Some of the soldiers are said to have spent a year at the peacekeeping mission. They lamented about the unfavorable weather conditions in the region.
Sources say the peacekeepers under the United Nations are usually paid in advance towards the end of the mission, payments are made directly to their respective countries. It is alleged that their allowances arrived in the country during the last days of the former President, Yahya Jammeh.
“Jammeh used to get a percentage from every peacekeeper’s allowance” a source disclosed. Many are also accusing Brigadier General M.A Bah, former Head of Finance at GAF of squandering the funds.
Lieutenant Colonel Lamin B. Bojang, Army Spokesperson confirmed the story and added that they are working to settle the matter in the soonest possible time, he said that it is a process that cannot be automatic. Lt. Col. Bojang called on the soldiers to exercise patience for it will take a whole process to resolve the matter.
Security sources say a similar incident happened in the early 90s, after soldiers returned from a peacekeeping mission in Liberia.
