By:Mustapha S Koli,URR
The National Coordinator of TOSTAN, Gambia, Mr. Edrisa Keita has stressed that “Promoting Peace and Security Building Requires Collective Collaboration.”
He made the statement on Tuesday September23, 2019, at a cross border forum meant to enhance sub-regional peace and security in The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea Bissau.
The one day cross border meeting, organised by Tostan Senegal, in Medina Afia village in the northern Cassamance province of Senegal and funded by the Global Affairs of Canada project, targets participants of the women and youth sectors of the border countries.
The annual activity, according Tostan officials from Senegal and the Gambia, aims to strengthen and consolidate unity, as well promote peace and security within the sub-region.
Mr. Keita said that, the numeracy and literacy modules of Tostan’s programme, greatly contributed to raise the understanding of participants, particularly on the elements of human security, which is a significant aspect of women empowerment, to mediate disputes in their respective communities.
The Peace and security forum, which according to organisers, serves as a platform for participants, to share experiences, exchange best practices and also strengthen the existing historic ties between The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea Bissau is an integral part of the projects activity calendar.
Mr. Omar Cham, deputy chief of Kolda region, noted that The Gambia and Senegal is the same people with similar customs and traditions, thus divided by borders for geographical and colonial identity.
He challenged participants to maintain the spirit of unity and brotherliness and also be responsive to the early warning systems of conflicts for timely interventions.
He dilated on the significance that the governments of Senegal and the Gambia attaches to the maintenance of peace and security within the sub-region.
He finally appealed for collaborative efforts to maintain the already existing peace and stability within the sub-region in the spirit of unity and Africanism.
Mrs. Fanta Barry, Community Management Coordinator, in her presentation revealed that, over one hundred disputes were successfully resolved in 2019.
These, she said, ranges from Inter-village disputes, family disputes, Disputes between farmers and herders, marital disputes, Gender Based violence cases, amongst others.
She acknowledged the significant drop of cases reported to Cadi and Magistrate courts in the 2019, as a result of their mediation efforts within their respective communities.
Mrs.Barry finally challenged participants to consider peace and security building, as a critical driver to maintain law and order in society.
The meeting was characterised by songs, drama and fanfare depicting the need to enhance Sub-Regional peace and security through concerted efforts by member countries.