National Assembly member for Baddibu Central Sulayman Saho has warned Senegal not to use The Gambia as a base to attack separatist rebels in Casamance.

Saho made the statement while moving a motion at the National Assembly days after a peace deal was brokered between Ecowas and MFDC rebels to release seven captured Senegalese soldiers.

“The Republic of Senegal should not use our country as a base to attack anybody elsewhere outside the country, not the rebels in Cassamance nor anybody else. 

“The lives of our citizens in Foni will continue to be under threat as long as these forces continue to occupy that part of the country in the name of whatever arrangement,” Mr Saho said.

“I would like to urge my fellow parliamentarians to revisit the security agreement if any, and in addition, for Government to redeploy other ECOWAS nationals in Foni and withdraw the Senegalese forces that are there, with a view to promoting and maintaining peace and order in the western region of The Gambia,” he added.

Saho continued: “The Gambia is a sovereign state that should be in charge of its security. 

“We all appreciate the support of ECOWAS in 2016 but we still expect the government to implement the much-talked-about and anticipated security sector reform as it is about time our men and women in uniform took control of the security of our beloved country.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba