By Omar Bah
Ecowas has dismissed speculations linking the rotation of its Senegalese contingent in The Gambia to the 5th December presidential election, insisting the movement is routine and has nothing to do with politics.
A statement issued by the Ecomig force commander noted that the mission’s attention has been drawn to “many speculative and unsubstantiated commentaries” regarding the arrival of new Senegalese troops.
“Ecomig wishes to inform the general public and members of the media that the arrival of the incoming Senegalese contingent forms part of the routine, annual rotation of personnel deployed under the Ecomig mission,” the statement said.
The mission stressed that the relief-in-line is undertaken in accordance with established Ecowas peace support arrangements to ensure continuity, operational readiness and sustainability.
“Previous Ecomig rotations have similarly involved the replacement of personnel who have completed their prescribed tour of duty with new personnel,” it said.
In a rebuttal shared with The Standard, Ecomig added: “Ecomig therefore wishes to emphasise that the on-going rotation of the Senegalese contingent is not related to, nor occasioned by, the forthcoming elections in The Gambia. The movement of the incoming personnel is strictly a routine relief-in-line of troops in accordance with the mission’s established deployment cycle.”
Ecomig was deployed in The Gambia in January 2017 following the refusal of then president Yahya Jammeh to accept defeat. Its core mandate is to provide security, stabilise the country and support the Gambian armed forces.