Gambia’s army chief said he would not order his men to fight other African troops
Gambia’s army chief said Wednesday he would not order his men to fight other African troops if they enter Gambian territory.
ECOWAS troops entered The Gambia on midnight Wednesday made up of Senegalese soldiers as well as combat men from Ghana, Nigeria and other countries.
“We are not going to involve ourselves militarily; this is a political dispute,” Chief of Defence Staff Ousman Badjie said, after eating dinner in a tourist district close to the capital, Banjul, eyewitnesses told AFP.
“I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight. I love my men,” he added, stopping to pose for selfies with admirers while dressed in fatigues, beret and green t-shirt, according to those present.
“If they (Senegalese) come in, we are here like this,” Badjie said, making a hands-up to surrender gesture.
Badjie is no stranger to controversy after appearing to declare support for president-elect Adama Barrow and then switching back to Jammeh.
He was recently barred from visiting Gambian peacekeepers in Darfur due to the sensitivity of The Gambia’s ongoing political crisis, which has seen Jammeh repeatedly refuse to step down despite losing a December 1 election to opponent Barrow.
“Our troops are on alert. … The ultimatum takes effect at midnight,” when Jammeh’s mandate is due to expire, Senegal army spokesman Colonel Abdou Ndiaye told AFP ahead of the deadline.
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