{"id":89355,"date":"2025-11-04T07:15:45","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T07:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/uncategorized\/mansakonko-chairman-warns-foreign-troops-threaten-sovereignty"},"modified":"2025-11-04T07:49:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T07:49:06","slug":"mansakonko-chairman-warns-foreign-troops-threaten-sovereignty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/mansakonko-chairman-warns-foreign-troops-threaten-sovereignty","title":{"rendered":"Mansakonko Chairman Warns Foreign Troops Threaten Sovereignty"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Gambia. <\/strong><\/span>The Chairman of the Mansakonko Area Council, Landing B. Sanneh, has raised concerns about the continued presence of ECOWAS and Senegalese forces in The Gambia, nearly nine years after the country\u2019s political transition.<\/b><\/p>\n

Sanneh questioned the justification for the sustained deployment of foreign forces\u2014particularly Senegalese troops stationed at the State House\u2014arguing that their presence undermines The Gambia\u2019s independence and sovereignty.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are ECOWAS (ECOMIG) foreign forces still in The Gambia to the extent that Senegalese armed forces are occupying the State House after about nine years of a bloodless political impasse?\u201d Sanneh asked. \u201cIf President Barrow chooses to neglect the implications of the continuous presence of Senegalese forces in our State House, we, the citizens, must not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chairman Sanneh said it was \u201cunacceptable\u201d for a sovereign nation to rely indefinitely on foreign military forces for internal security, noting that other countries\u2014including Senegal\u2014had long ended such arrangements with former colonial powers.<\/p>\n

\u201cSerious countries, including Senegal, parted with the military presence of their former colonizers decades ago in the name of preserving and protecting their independence and sovereignty,\u201d he said. \u201cWhy should The Gambia entertain an unjustified pampering that seems to be unending?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sanneh recalled that even in the aftermath of the 1981 coup attempt, then-President Sir Dawda Jawara acted swiftly to implement security reforms before withdrawing Senegalese troops. He contrasted that response with the current situation, which he said \u201ccannot in any way be described as a genuine mutual international relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n

The council chairman also criticized comments previously attributed to President Adama Barrow, who once claimed he was \u201cmore powerful than former Presidents Jawara and Jammeh\u201d because he commands both national and ECOWAS forces.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all know how such comments are linked to bullying and attempting to silence political opponents and critics,\u201d Sanneh said. \u201cPerhaps the President enjoys the presence of these forces as a patronage to his administration, but he is neglecting the short- and long-term implications.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sanneh questioned what tangible contributions the ECOWAS and Senegalese troops currently make to The Gambia\u2019s national security.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat visible, sustainable, transformative activities are they doing apart from mounting checkpoints and escorting the President on his endless tours?\u201d he asked. \u201cAre the Gambian Armed and Security Forces not capable of performing such basic duties?\u201d<\/p>\n

He urged the government to prioritize comprehensive security sector reforms to enable national forces to fully take charge of the country\u2019s protection, calling the continued foreign military presence \u201cunfashionable\u201d and contrary to national interest.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Gambia has the prime responsibility to secure its President and people, which must not be transferred to any other country,\u201d Sanneh emphasized. \u201cThe continuous indefinite presence of Senegalese forces in our State House is not in the interest of The Gambia or her people.\u201d<\/p>\n

While acknowledging the \u201ccritical support\u201d provided by ECOWAS and Senegal during the 2016\u20132017 political impasse, Sanneh said the time had come for both to facilitate a safe and transparent withdrawal.<\/p>\n

\u201cOverstay may sometimes defeat the primary purpose of a wonderful gesture,\u201d he noted. \u201cWe value our historic and cultural ties with Senegal and the ECOWAS bloc, but these should never come at the expense of our sovereignty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sanneh concluded by calling on President Barrow\u2019s administration, ECOWAS, and the Senegalese authorities to \u201ctransparently explain to Gambians\u201d the reasons behind the continued deployment of foreign troops in the State House.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot continue being mute about this,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is time to let our country breathe a sense of sovereignty.\u201d<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Gambia<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Gambia. The Chairman of the Mansakonko Area Council, Landing B. Sanneh, has raised concerns about the continued presence of ECOWAS and Senegalese forces in The Gambia, nearly nine years after the country\u2019s political transition. Sanneh questioned the justification for the sustained deployment of foreign forces\u2014particularly Senegalese troops stationed at the State House\u2014arguing that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":89354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,12],"tags":[260],"class_list":["post-89355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-policy","tag-gambia"],"yoast_head":"\nMansakonko Chairman Warns Foreign Troops Threaten Sovereignty - Gambia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Chairman of the Mansakonko Area Council, Landing B. 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