By: Sulayman Waan
Major General Yankuba A. Drammeh, deputy chief of Defense Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) has called on Gambians to work towards the maintenance of peace and tranquility in the country.
Drammeh, was during Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance DCAF dialogue forum on Transitional Justice and Security Sector Reform held at Coral Beach Hotel on Wednesday 18 September.
“The young people collectively should work towards the maintenance of peace and tranquility in this country. People have that right to take the street to demonstrate if it’s absolutely necessary,” he said.
However, Major General Yankuba urged Gambians not to hijack the new found freedom to advance individual selfish interest. He added that Gambians are not denied to demonstrate but they should know the country have rules and regulation that safeguard her interest.
“If people take the laws into their hands and uses uncomfort system to vandalize and trap others freedom; therefore, “what kind of country do we want to run,” the top military official asked rhetorically.
Major General Drammeh noted that the security is very conscious of all things going in the country, adding they have the understanding for putting the necessary mechanisms to avert sensitive issues in the future.
He stated that the country needs Armed Forces that is credible, legitimate, accountable and subordinate to the civil authority.
“We would like to see Armed Force that is sensitive to peace and aspiration of every Gambian. We want to see Armed Forces whose actions and behavior is consistence with best practices of international humanitarian laws,” he added.
The GAF official maintained that the state want Armed Forces that can diligently and effectively restore its constitutional mandate and other assign role to the satisfaction of the model and core values.
The veteran military official said the Gambians have civil liberty to contribute meaningfully to the developmental aspiration and security of the country, adding that the state can’t attain its developmental aspiration in the absent of peace and security.
According to him, if the country isn’t safe some people will take the law into their hands and do reckless behaviours. ‘What type of future do the people want to build? he queried.
Speaking further Major General Drammeh said he had been lecturing young people on various programmes because he wants the youth folk to become responsible citizens to contribute meaningfully in the development of the country.
He added that every Gambian owed a responsibility to preserve peace and tranquility of the country to ensure the masses live in harmony and peace.
