The chief commander of Ecowas military forces in Gambia (Ecomig) has warned soldiers against violating armed conflicts and humanitarian laws, saying that offenders will be prosecuted.  

Brigadier general Muctarr Diop made the comment during the opening of a two-day training workshop on armed conflicts and humanitarian laws at African Princess hotel in Kotu.

The seminar for Ecomig contingents in The Gambia is being sponsored by the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).

“Nothing today that happened in the battlefield can be hidden. Of recent we have seen that the international community has raised alarm of possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. 

“Certain things can happen in your deployment because you are in peace support operation,” the general told the participants.

“Civilians must be protected at all time. No perpetrator of human rights violation will ever go scot-free and as such there is the need to be educated under the laws of armed conflicts so in order not to fall as victims. 

“I therefore enjoin the participants to take the seminar seriously and apply when the need applies, conducting operations in respect to host nations laws and being in line with the international humanitarian law under the laws of armed conflict,” he added.

“I also have to highlight that since 2016, the ICRC has been collaborating with Ecowas standby force in conducting regional workshops for member states on armed conflict. 

“The seminar will avail participants to have basic knowledge on international humanitarian law and to be guided at all time at their military endeavor,” he continued.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba