By Nyima Sillah
Yankuba Drammeh, Chief of Defense Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) has called for maintenance of peace and tranquility in the country to ensure the wellbeing of all Gambians.
The top military official made the called recently during an official decoration ceremony of GAF promoted officers held at Joint Officers Mess in Kotu.
He informed the officers that “peace and security of this country is a precipitate for societal cohesion and sustainable national development.”
He noted that meaningful development cannot take place in the absence of peace and security, therefore, he said, every Gambian has a role to play in the maintenance of tranquility in this country. While noting that GAF is aware that peace and security is a continuous process that must be pursuing at all times.
CDS Drammeh who has been advocating for peace both among the civilian and military told men and women in uniform that as an institution they should be seen as the last line of national unity.
“It takes very little reasoning to spark a conflict because if you are allowed to be driven from emotional and sentiments you (can) make uncalculated decisions of rules that will resolve into a conflict situation,” he said.
Nonetheless, he said serving members of the Gambia Armed Forces cannot afford to be divided as they make some deployments in order to preserve peace and tranquility of the country.
He recalled that during the political impasse the country was widely divided politically and this almost overturns to crisis. But during that difficult time in the Gambia, the soldiers stood firm to ensure peace and stability continue.
“We should collectively work together as one people and one nation to preserve that societal cohesion which is very critical if we talk of advancing development agenda in this country”, he added.
He therefore commended the Gambia Armed Forces for their exceptional sacrifices for the nation. He said this many countries have seen and appreciated how the Gambian soldiers prevented possible catastrophe in the country.