President Adama Barrow has constituted a taskforce to investigate the skirmishes between Senegalese ECOMIG soldiers and Casamance rebels on The Gambia’s Southern border with Senegal.

“Given the urgency of the situation, President Barrow has immediately constituted a Presidential Taskforce to thoroughly investigate the incident. 

“For a more inclusive and transparent investigation, the Presidential Taskforce draws membership from key Government institutions and the ECOWAS Permanent Mission in The Gambia,” Ebrima G Sankareh, spokesman for Barrow’s government said.

“Equally, President Barrow sympathises with the people of Foni particularly, Foni Kansala, for the disruption of their daily activities and the fear and anxiety caused by the skirmishes forcing some villages to flee for safety,” he added.

“Following the tragic and unfortunate encounter between Senegalese ECOMIG soldiers and separatist forces along The Gambia’s Southern border with Senegal on Monday, His Excellency, President Adama Barrow wishes to express his profound sense of grief to the ECOMIG Command, The ECOWAS Community and the bereaved families of the two fallen ECOMIG soldiers. 

“President Barrow prays that Allah in His infinite mercy accords the fallen soldiers a special place in Heaven and heals their nine injured comrades,” he continued.

“He commiserates with the bereaved families as they go through a very difficult period, mourning the tragic loss of their loved ones.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba