Ecowas has extended the military mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) to December 2021 and will transform into a police mission after the presidential election. 

At the request of the Barrow government, Ecowas leaders at the 58th ordinary session on Saturday extended the mandate of ECOMIG for a period of 12 months from 1 January 2021. 

Four ECOWAS nations have agreed to send police units to The Gambia once ECOMIG becomes a police mission.

“It [ECOWAS authority] expresses its gratitude to Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal and Togo for agreeing to contribute Constituted Police Units to ECOMIG, and the European Union for its financial and technical support,” Ecowas said in a statement.