By Buba Gagigo
The United Democratic Party (UDP) has called on the Government of the Gambia to investigate the alleged drone killings of Gambian nationals in Foni.
“We have heard reports of the unfortunate killing of civilians in Foni by Senegalese drone. This incident further exacerbates an already tense and fragile situation in FONI. The UDP strongly believes that the territorial integrity must be respected by Senegal and that the Gambia Government must stand up to its responsibility to protect Gambia’s territorial integrity. The citizens and residents of FONI must not live in fear of being killed by remote control weapons of war as they go about their daily activities.
“I call on the Gambia government to ensure that the citizens and residents of Foni are as safe as the residents of Banjul. Whilst the UDP recognizes the indivisibility of Senegal, it also firmly believes that the Gambia cannot and must not be used as a launching pad by the Senegalese. I call on the Gambia Government and ECOWAS to launch a swift and thorough investigation to provide answers to the families of the victims and The Gambian citizens at large and also to provide a concrete action plan to prevent the reoccurrence of such incidence,” the UDP leader said during their Congress in Janjanbureh.
The killing of the three Gambians earlier this week was not the first reported incident of its kind around the area. One Yankuba Badjie, a Gambian youth from Gifanga village, in Foni, was also allegedly shot last month and killed by the Senegalese soldiers at the border of the Gambia and Cassamance region of Senegal.