By Fatou Sillah
Ahmad Gitteh, a member of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) and an adviser to the Minister of Digital Economy, has defended the continued deployment of the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG), warning that individuals loyal to former President Yahya Jammeh still occupy influential positions within the country’s security forces.
Speaking in an interview with West Coast Radio, Mr. Gitteh said some officers with lingering allegiances to the former president continue to hold command positions and have access to weapons, raising concerns about the country’s security preparedness and the potential consequences of withdrawing regional troops prematurely.
“We have Jammeh loyalists, of course. In command positions,” he said.
Mr. Gitteh argued that any decision to withdraw ECOMIG should be informed by the progress of ongoing security sector reforms and the implementation of recommendations made by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), which investigated human rights violations committed during Mr. Jammeh’s 22-year rule.
He suggested that the continued presence of individuals with ties to the former administration, particularly those occupying sensitive positions within the security establishment, warranted careful scrutiny as The Gambia works to consolidate its democratic transition.
While acknowledging that most members of the country’s security services remain professional and committed to their constitutional responsibilities, Mr. Gitteh cautioned against dismissing the potential risks associated with officers who may retain personal or political loyalties to the former president.
“The majority of them are loyal to the country,” he said, drawing a distinction between the broader security establishment and those whose allegiances he questioned.
Addressing criticism of ECOMIG’s continued deployment, Mr. Gitteh also sought to clarify the composition of the regional force, emphasizing that it is a multinational mission rather than an exclusively Senegalese military presence.
He said the mission includes personnel from Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana, with troop contributions reflecting the military capabilities and regional commitments of participating countries.
According to Mr. Gitteh, Senegal’s significant contribution is partly attributable to its geographical proximity to The Gambia, as well as the longstanding historical and diplomatic ties between the two countries.
He also acknowledged that participation in international peacekeeping missions carries economic benefits for troop-contributing countries, including foreign currency earnings for deployed personnel.
However, he maintained that such financial considerations should not overshadow the fundamental question of whether The Gambia’s security institutions are sufficiently prepared to assume full responsibility for national security without regional military support.
Mr. Gitteh reiterated that the pace of security sector reforms and the implementation of the TRRC’s recommendations should remain central to any assessment of ECOMIG’s future.
His remarks come amid renewed debate over the continued presence of foreign troops in The Gambia, with critics raising concerns about national sovereignty and the prolonged deployment of regional forces, while supporters argue that their presence remains an important safeguard during the country’s democratic transition.
The debate also reflects broader questions about the readiness of The Gambia’s security institutions, the legacy of Mr. Jammeh’s rule and the challenges of balancing national sovereignty with the need to preserve political stability.
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