GDC Party Leader
By Buba Gagigo
The Leader and Secretary General of opposition Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) party Mama Kandeh has said that Gambia doesn’t need ECOWAS police because there are enough citizens who are fit for the purpose.
“I learned that they want to bring police in the country from Senegal, Togo and Benin. I don’t know. We don’t welcome the idea, because we have enough police. We have enough Gambians that can take the uniform and protect the country.”
Kandeh made the remarks at his party’s congress in Farafenni, on Saturday.
In January Gambia Government announced that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will transform the ECOMIG forces into police, after Gambia’s highly anticipated presidential election in December 2021.
The decision followed an extension of the mandate of the forces to December this year. The decision was taken at a virtual submit by the regional bloc.
Meanwhile, to transform the forces into a police mission requires among others, contribution of personnel from member states. So far, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Ghana, Senegal and Togo have agreed to contribute personnel to constitute the police mission.