The armed forces of The Gambia and Senegal have joined efforts to enhance security along their shared borders through coordinated patrols aimed at addressing cross-border crime and fostering regional stability.

The operation is part of an ongoing collaboration under the 2017 Defence and Security Cooperation Agreement signed in Dakar.

This partnership is overseen by a Joint Military Committee established earlier this year, comprising senior commanders from both nations.

Troops from The Gambia’s 1st and 4th Infantry Battalions, stationed in Yundum and Kanilai, teamed up with Senegalese forces from Zone 5 in Ziguinchor for simultaneous patrols. One team covered the Kampassa to Kalagi route in The Gambia’s Foni region, while another operated between Darsilami and Sohm, extending into Senegal’s Casamance region.

The two forces said the patrols aim to combat armed banditry, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and other transnational crimes. The joint efforts also focus on strengthening relationships with local communities, building trust, and promoting socio-economic development in border areas.

“The joint patrols not only address security challenges but also foster deeper cooperation between our two nations,”Colonel Yahya Jobe, Commanding Officer of The Gambia’s 1st Infantry Battalion said. 

The exercise concluded with a formal ceremony in the Gambian border village of Darsilami, attended by key officials from both countries. Notable figures included Ziguinchor Governor Morr Talla Tine, representatives from The Gambia’s West Coast Region, and senior military commanders from both sides.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba