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 The seventh Gambian
contingent (GAMCOY
7), comprising 196
members of the
Gambia Armed Forces,
under the command of
Lieutenant Colonel
Sainey Bayo, left
Gambian soil at 5:00
am this morning, for
the Sudanese
troubled region of
Darfur. The latest
contingent includes
five female
soldiers.
The contingent will
replace Gamcoy 6,
whose tour of duty
has been
successfully
completed, following
their deployment in
December, 2007.
Shortly before their
departure,
Vice-President Dr
Aja Isatou
Njie-Saidy, bade
farewell to the
contingent on behalf
of the President
Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ
Jammeh.
Ex-president, Sir
Dawda Kairaba Jawara,
secretaries of
state, Major General
Lang Tombong Tamba,
the chief of Defence
Staff of GAF,
security chiefs,
NAMs, foreign
diplomats, families,
friends and well
wishers, also
gathered at the July
22nd Square to bade
farewell to the
soldiers.
Delivering a
farewell statement,
Vice-President
Njie-Saidy, said a
quick solution to
the conflict in
Darfur has not
readily cometo hand,
inspite of the
sustained
international peace
efforts. However,
she maintained that
there is no reason
to despair.
"In this regard, my
government's
commitment to
fulfill its
obligations to the
charter and
principles of the
AU/UN, and the
Gambia Armed Forces'
readiness to
participate in
peacekeeping
endeavours, has been
relentless. This
trend will continue
until peace is
achieved and
normalcy finally
restored in this
troubled region," VP
Njie-Saidy told the
officers and men of
GAMCOY 7.
"In this context,
your role in this
humanitarian
endeavour is of
great significance
and importance, as
you will not only
ensure the security
and freedom of
movement of the
people in your area
of responsibility,
but your presence
will also bring hope
to a people who have
been greatly
deprived of their
fundamental rights
and freedoms as
human beings", she
highlighted.
The vice-president
also advised the
contingent to take
every precaution to
protect themselves
from all ills not
associated with
active duty,
especially
communicable
diseases such as
HIV/AIDS.
"I have no doubt in
my mind that the
training that you
had undergone, has
raised your
awareness and
enhanced your
understanding of the
risks and challenges
that you will be
encountering in the
mission area. The
nation has
confidence in your
capabilities and
self-esteem," she
added.
"On this note, I
wish to bid you
farewell and pray
that Almighty God
protects and guide
you all," she
concluded.
For his part, Major
General Lang Tombong
Tamba, the chief of
Defence Staff of the
Gambia Armed Forces
(GAF), said history
is being made as GAF
recounts with great
pride the numerous
achievements that it
has made in mission
areas since 1989,
when troops, as
protection force,
were deployed in
military operations
in Liberia and
subsequently Guinea
Bissau in 1999,
Liberia for a second
time in 2003 and now
Darfur.
Major General Tamba
revealed that
currently, there are
232 Gambian officers
and soldiers serving
overseas, adding
that this represents
a huge contribution
to peacekeeping
efforts by the
country.
CDS Tamba also
extended his
compliments on
behalf of the
president and
commander-in-chief
of the Gambia Armed
Forces, to the
government and
people of UK, the
Republic of France,
Turkey, the Islamic
Republic of
Pakistan, the United
States of America,
Federal Republic of
Nigeria, the
Republic of China on
Taiwan and all
others, for their
diverse contribution
towards the
advancement of the
Gambia Armed Forces.
He urged the
contingent to
maintain peace and
perform up to
expectation.
Source: The Daily Observer (Banjul)
1 July 2008
Assan Sallah & Omar
Wally
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