The Gambia governement has dismissed report that three young men allegedly killed by Senegalese military drone are Gambians.

The men were reportedly killed last Saturday while fetching firewoods in the bush in Foni.

The deceased were identified as Demba Colley, age, 23, Alagie Kolley, age, 23 and Ebrima Colley, age, 20. 

The lone survivor, Sulayman Kolley, is in intensive care at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul.

However, the government clarified that the men were Senegalese from the Casamance region registered as refugees in The Gambia. 

“The Gambia Government preliminary investigations revealed that all the deceased were non-Gambians but had registered with the UNHCR Banjul Office as refugees in The Gambia.

“The Gambia Government wishes to clarify that all three men died in the Senegalese Region of Casamance and not within Gambian territory as is being erroneously alleged,”said Gambia government spokesman in a statement. 

However, earlier reports of the drone incident which was confirmed by some Foni residents and the national assembly member for Foni Kansala Almamy Gibba insisted that the deceased are Gambians. 

Mr Gibba and four other members of parliament from areas around The Gambia’s southern border with Senegal have demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Senegalese soldiers said to be serving under the Ecowas regional forces, Ecomig in Foni.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba