By Makutu Manneh
Lieutenant General Ousman Gomez, the chief of defence staff, has warned members of the Gambia Armed Forces against engaging in political activities as the country approaches the campaign and election period, saying military personnel must remain strictly apolitical.
Speaking during an ongoing tour of military installations across the country, Lt. Gen. Gomez said soldiers should participate in political events only when officially assigned to provide security, protection, or an escort.
“The only time you can be in any political activity is when you are assigned by a competent authority either to provide escort or protection,” he said. “Other than that, you dare not appear on any political platform as a military, be it in uniform or not.”
Lt. Gen. Gomez said the approaching campaign and voting period did not change the military’s obligations, stressing that personnel must remain outside partisan politics.
He said the armed forces had zero tolerance for political involvement by its members and criticized the conduct of some soldiers on social media, describing it as embarrassing to the institution.
Lt. Gen. Gomez reminded personnel that their conduct could reach the highest levels of government, noting that reports concerning soldiers are presented during meetings of the National Security Council, which is chaired by President Adama Barrow in his capacity as commander-in-chief.
He urged soldiers to safeguard the reputation of the armed forces and maintain discipline, saying the public continued to hold the military in high regard.
Even when provoked, he said, military personnel should exercise restraint and be among the last to react.
Lt. Gen. Gomez described the armed forces as an institution of last resort in times of national difficulty and said maintaining discipline was essential to fulfilling that responsibility.
He also reminded troops that their allegiance was to the country rather than to any individual.
“You are serving God and country,” he said.
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