The Gambia government has said it is neutral in the ongoing low intensity conflict between Senegal and separatist forces in Casamance. 

The statement comes as the seven captured Senegalese soldiers were handed over to a delegation of Gambian government, Red Cross and Ecowas officials.

The soldiers were handed over yesterday (14 February) to the mediation team after reaching a deal with MFDC separatist leader Salif Sadio. 

The men were held as prisoners of war in last month’s clashes between the opposing forces along The Gambia’s southern border with Senegal. 

The Senegal soldiers were serving with a contingent of Ecomig forces deployed in Foni and clashed with the rebels after attempting to stop illegal timber smugglers. 

A member of the Gambian delegation Colonel Musa Trawally said The Gambia will not be involved in the conflict in Casamance.

“The Gambia stands neurtral in this ongoing crisis and always remain neurtral.

“We also want to make it clear that we will not allow anybody to use our soil to launch attack against another group,” Colonel Trawally said. 

The Movement of Democratic Forces for Casamance (MFDC) is behind a low-intensity separatist conflict in Senegal’s southern region of Casamance that dates back to 1982 and has claimed several thousand lives.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba