By Makutu Manneh
The chief of defence staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Ousman Gomez, has warned soldiers against involving themselves in border disputes between The Gambia and Senegal, saying such matters fall outside the military’s mandate unless troops are formally directed to intervene.
General Gomez issued the warning while addressing troops during a tour of military installations across the country.
He said he had received reports that some military personnel were seeking to involve themselves in border-related matters and urged soldiers to leave such issues to the authorities responsible for resolving them.
“The border was demarcated years ago,” General Gomez said. “There are responsible authorities handling the issue, and therefore it is not the responsibility of soldiers to engage in any border dispute.”
General Gomez said both The Gambia and Senegal have commissions responsible for border matters and that the two bodies are working together to address outstanding issues. The military, he added, should become involved only when directed by a competent authority.
He also reminded troops to respect the chain of command and follow established procedures when concerns arise rather than acting independently.
General Gomez separately warned soldiers against involvement in drug trafficking, saying the armed forces maintained a zero-tolerance policy toward the illicit drug trade.
He urged personnel to uphold the discipline expected of members of the military and warned that involvement in drug trafficking was incompatible with the standards of the Armed Forces.
The military, he said, has built its reputation on discipline, a standard that all personnel are expected to maintain.
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