By: Momodou Justice Darboe
The outgoing commander of the ECOMIG Forces on Wednesday passed on the baton to the new commander of the sub-regional peace stabilization mission in The Gambia.
Col. Ndiangne Diouf assumed command responsibility after the completion of his predecessor Col. Babucarr Touray’s one-year tour of duty.
Col. Touray was handed the ECOMIG flag in a befitting military ceremony at the ECOMIG HQ in Fajara, symbolizing his assumption of full command responsibility over the sub-regional forces.
The ceremony was graced by the minister of defence, ECOWAS head of mission and officers and soldiers of ECOMIG.
In remarks at the handing and taking over ceremony, the ECOWAS Head of Mission, Esther Lilian French, said: “It’s with great pleasure I stand before you this morning at this handing over and taking over of command ceremony at the forecourt of the First HQ. First of all, let me congratulate Col. Babucarr Toure for the successful completion of his tour of duty in this mission. Colonel, I thank you for your service to ECOWAS over the past 12 months and I hope that the experience has been a fulfilling and useful one not just for you as professional achievement but as a milestone in your personal career development goals.”
According to Madam French, ECOWAS was able to consolidate the gains made by Col. Toure’s predecessors in promoting peace and security in The Gambia and actualizing ECOMIG’s mandate.
“This would not have been possible without the close collaboration of the Gambian defence and security forces, the current administration and the good people of The Gambia. I would like to thank the Gambian authorities, especially the Gambia’s defence and security forces for their support to the mission in its efforts to build a more peaceful and stable Gambia to realize the mandate of this mission,” she acknowledged. “Similarly, we are grateful to the President of The Gambia H. E Adama Barrow for his support in providing an enabling environment for the mission to continue to support and accomplish its mandate in The Gambia,” she added.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the handing and taking over ceremony, the new ECOMIG Force Commander, Col. Ndiangne Diouf, said he was honoured and thrilled to assume his new role and promised to work in close collaboration with the Gambia’s security forces to promote national security and sub-regional peace and security.
Col. Diouf also promised to consolidate the gains made by his predecessors in strengthening ECOMIG’s relations with the civilian population.
“We can collaborate with the Gambia’s security forces in the area of training. The maintenance of peace in The Gambia and other West African nations is our preoccupation,” he underlined.