By Seedy Jobe
The Gambia Armed Forces has repositioned its Military Vehicle Check Point (VCP) in Bwiam Village, Foni Kansala District of the West Coast Region, following a series of road traffic accidents in the area, some of them fatal.
In a statement released Friday on its official Facebook page, the military said the decision followed a comprehensive assessment prompted by mounting safety concerns from the community.
According to the statement, the High Command constituted a joint assessment team made up of senior representatives from the armed forces and the ECOMIG. The team conducted a detailed review of the checkpoint’s location and operations, engaging local authorities and residents of Bwiam to gather firsthand accounts and technical observations.
The review was further informed by consultations with the Mobile Traffic Unit of the Gambia Police Force and other relevant stakeholders. These consultations, the military said, revealed a pattern of recurrent road traffic incidents in the vicinity of the checkpoint.
“Subsequent consultations … revealed a pattern of recurrent road traffic incidents in the vicinity of the Bwiam VCP, some of which have unfortunately resulted in fatalities,” the statement noted.
The armed forces said the repositioning was carried out in a “measured manner” to minimize accident risks while maintaining the checkpoint’s operational effectiveness and deterrent function.
The GAF emphasized that all security deployments remain subject to continuous review to ensure they are effective, proportionate, and aligned with the national interest.
In collaboration with ECOMIG and other security services, the military added, it remains committed to its constitutional mandate to protect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while promoting a people-centered security posture that enhances public safety and confidence.
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