By: Momodou Justice Darboe
A recent country-wide tour by the Chief of Defense Staff(CDS) has laid bare the many vulnerabilities of the Gambia Armed Forces, ranging from manpower constraints to accommodation and feeding issues.
CDS Lt. General Mamat O. Cham lately embarked on a tour of military installations across the country but the Gambia’s army chief could not be amused by what he heard at the various military barracks and units.
The tour served as a barometre for the army chief to gauge the condition of service of the soldiers and officers.
General Cham was able to learn on firsthand the human resource capacity constraints at the Guards Battalion at State House. He was also informed of some material resource constraints that soldiers and officers were battling at the Presidency.
At the Gambia Naval Command, the CDS was able to get a clearer picture of the material resource constraints that had been hindering the work of the Navy.
Similar issues had been highlighted in virtually all the places that the CDS and delegation visited.
Under-investment in the army by the Barrow administration in the past few years led to ration shortages, accommodation issues and locomotion challenges at the various military installations.
Despite the much-touted Security Sector Reform(SSR) project, this administration has been perceived in many quarters as apathetic to the welfare of soldiers and army.
Critics accused President Adama Barrow of being complacent when it comes to national security because he is barricaded by ECOMIG forces.
“The President is more concerned about his personal security and that of his family, hence his government’s disinterest in investing in the army to improve its operational efficiency,” an economist, who preferred anonymity, explained when approached for comment.
“I think the time has now come for ECOMIG to wind up their mission in The Gambia so that our government can be compelled to adequately invest in the development of the military,” added another of our interlocutors.
However, according to the deputy national security adviser Col. Omar Bojang, the SSR project has enjoyed government’s full support and the required leadership from President Barrow.