On Wednesday, Senegal deployed a new contingent for The Gambia as part of the Ecowas mission. Comprising 618 personnel, including 14 women, the contingent is under the command of Colonel Balla Moussa Mané. It is primarily composed of a headquarters staff, a command, support, and service company, a mechanised company, and two motorised companies.
“This 10th contingent in The Gambia demonstrates the confidence that the Ecowas authorities and our sister republic of The Gambia have placed in our armed forces,” declared Brigadier General Simon Ndour.
According to the Senegal Army Chief, this mission is particularly significant, as it takes place in a neighbouring, brotherly, and friendly country whose internal security has a direct impact on that of Senegal.
“Your presence in The Gambia will not be merely a military duty. It is above all an act of support for a brotherly and friendly country that is going through a difficult period in its history,” he emphasised. In an era of rampant, sometimes excessive, use of social media, General Simon Ndour urged the military to use it “in a measured, intelligent, and strictly personal manner”.
“Today, military missions are becoming increasingly complex and demanding. This requires strength of character and a delicate balance between rigor in the face of adversity and flexibility in your interactions with state authorities, the local population, and the various stakeholders on the ground,” he stated.
The Chief of Staff exhorted the soldiers to demonstrate self-discipline and to scrupulously respect the rules of conduct and commitment, in accordance with the laws and regulations of the host country. “Be beyond reproach in the field. I urge you to be worthy ambassadors of the Armed Forces,” he added.
At the head of the contingent, Colonel Balla Moussa Mané expressed his gratitude to the military authorities for the trust placed in him. In The Gambia, the mission of the Senegalese military will be to support the ongoing stabilisation process. “We will follow the same approach as previous missions,” assured Colonel Mané.
Le Soleil