By Seedy Jobe
President Adama Barrow on Wednesday paid tribute to the outgoing commander of the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia, Col. Ndiagne Diouf, and formally received his successor, Col. Aliou Tine, at a ceremony held at the State House in Banjul.
In remarks conveyed in an official statement, Mr. Barrow expressed appreciation to the Economic Community of West African States and the Government of Senegal for their continued role in supporting peace and security in The Gambia. He welcomed Col. Tine and assured him of the full cooperation of the Gambian government.
“President Barrow expressed heartfelt gratitude to ECOWAS and the Government of Senegal for their service, assuring Commander Tine of the Gambia Government’s utmost support,” the statement read.
The president underscored the importance of close coordination between the regional force and Gambian authorities, noting that sustained collaboration was essential to preserving the country’s reputation for stability and peaceful coexistence.
Col. Tine, the new ECOMIG Force Commander, pledged to work closely with national security institutions and to take proactive steps to address any threats to the country’s stability, according to the statement.
“Commander Aliou Tine assured President Barrow of his commitment to work in close collaboration with local authorities and take proactive measures to address potential threats to national stability,” the statement noted.
Also present, the ECOWAS Head of Bureau in The Gambia, Miata Lily French, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the country, stressing the need for strategic security measures amid broader regional challenges.
Mr. Barrow echoed those concerns, pointing to persistent security and governance pressures across the ECOWAS region and emphasizing that protecting democratic values and regional stability was a shared responsibility.
The outgoing commander, Col. Diouf, expressed gratitude to Gambian authorities for their cooperation during his tenure, citing a constructive working relationship and a supportive operating environment. Mr. Barrow, in turn, extended his thanks to ECOWAS leaders and again acknowledged Senegal’s ongoing support to the mission.
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