We are worried that the continued presence of the Senegalese troops is causing more problems and concern citizens.

Their occupation has triggered the following incidences.  Gambians continued to be provoked by their presence and the government of Adama Barrow are not reacting to it.

1.    In January of 2019, Senegalese personnel in uniform, from the ECOMIG team, accompanied Adama Barrow’s mom to a community in the Basse region, talking to the community of how they should be supportive of Adama Barrow and family.

2.    February 18th, 2020 the Senegalese military troop refused to pay toll charge fees at trans-Gambia crossing which resulted a bitter pushed and pulled between the Security personnel of the two states. The bridge was close for few hours because the Gambia security forces would not allow them to cross without paying the toll charges.  As a result, the inspector general of the police, Mamour Jobe personally paid on behalf of Senegalese troop.

3.    In March of 2020, Senegalese troops crossed the border into Gambia in URR in a Village call GARAWOL KUTA. They shot and arrested a man remanded him at Senegalese prison in Kolda, Casamance region. He was arrested because his brother was a suspect. When his brother was nowhere to be found, he was jailed almost a month in prison before appeared in a law. He was later discharged by the law court in without any form of compensation.

The Senegal government has violated the hot-pursued agreement in 2017, that allows the military of either country to enter and follow wanted people. This man should have never been remanded in custody. He was innocent and taken from his family who were dependent on him for their daily survival.

4.    In April of 2020 almost 30 trucks loaded with COVID-19 food aid to Casamance from Senegal refused to the toll charges again. The Gambian security forces would not allow them to cross without paying, another standoff the bridge was closed for 3 hours. Some community elders from the area appealed to the truckers to pay if not this will be an embarrassment to president Barrow. After a lengthy discussion, the Senegalese truckers paid the toll charges before they crossed the toll.

5.    On May 21st of 2020. Senegalese troops have claimed that they have lost their way into Southern Gambian territory. About 20 armed personnel of the Senegalese military entered the border community of Sarre Omar in the Lower River Region.

This village is a timber landing site in the Lower River Region, has the interest of the Senegalese government. Senegalese armed forces were in three pickups and an armored personnel carrier (APC) came in this Gambian territory. The village youths and some members of the community asked them to leave.

6.    Foreign Investments has halted due to the peace keeping forces in the Gambia due to the presence of the ECOMIG.  This is evident to the current economy and the lack of employment continues to soar.