By: By: Sandally Sawo
The Head of ECOMIG Mission in The Gambia, Miatta Lily French, was at the head of a delegation that went to present the new ECOMIG Force Commander to President Adama Barrow at State House on Friday.
Col. Baboucarr Toure took over from Col. Ousmane Ali Kane after the end of his tour of duty.
Before the visit to the Presidency, command responsibilities were symbolically handed over to Col. Touray by the outgoing force commander at a colorful Change of Command parade at the ECOMIG HQ in Bakau. The parade also offered Col. Kane the opportunity to bid farewell to troops and personnel as well as The Gambia after a one-year tour of duty.
Speaking at the parade, the Head of ECOMIG Mission said Col. Kane had served The Gambia, ECOWAS, and ECOMIG with dedication and commitment. She expressed appreciation to the former ECOMIG commander for what, she remarked, building on the gains made by the mission and wished him Godspeed in his future endeavors.
The ECOMIG chief welcomed Col. Toure and reminded him of the enormity of the responsibilities he just assumed.
Meanwhile, the ECOMIG Mission HQ hosted Col.Kane at a farewell dinner at the Villa Roula Restaurant at Fajara on Thursday. The Guest of Honour for the occasion was H.E MiattaLily French. The thinking behind the event was to appreciate, honor, and bid farewell to Col. Kane for his service to ECOMIG and to welcome Col.Toure.
In her remarks at Friday’s meeting at State House, H. E French thanked the Government of The Gambia for the reception, emphasizing that ECOWAS and ECOMIG continue to be committed to absolute peace, law, and order in The Gambia. She expressed the hope that the new ECOMIG commander would live up to expectations.
Present at the meeting were, among others, the Senegalese ambassador to The Gambia, the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, ministers of defense and interior, the program manager at the Mission HQ, and senior military officers.