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Major Lamin K. Sanyang, Spokesperson of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) has said that the Senegalese military’s border patrol team that entered the Gambian territory in the Lower River Region on Wednesday through a village called Sare Omar had claimed that they lost their way while on patrol.
“When they entered Sare Omar, the villagers came out and told them to leave because they were in Gambian territory. They left without any problems,” he said.
The GAF spokesperson stated that the Gambia Armed Forces, upon receipt of information of the presence of the Senegalese forces in the Gambian territory without prior notification, instructed the Commanding Officer at the 2nd Infantry Battalion in Farafenni, Lt. Col. Timothy Sanyang to send a patrol team to Sare Omar on Thursday.
According to him, Lt. Col. Sanyang sent a patrol team from Pakaliba to investigate the issue and he also disclosed that the said village (Sare Omar) is a timber landing site.
“The team is yet to give us feed back as to what their findings are, but we have received initial reports that the Senegalese forces claimed they were lost while on patrol. The Senegalese forces were using three (3) pick-up vehicles and one Armored Personnel Career (APC) with about 20 to 30 personnel. This security forces were posted at a Guard Post around Amdallai at the border, and they claimed they were on patrol and found themselves in Sare Omar. The members of the community asked them to leave and they left,” he further stated.
Major Sanyang described this issue as a kind of incursion but was quick to add that it has nothing to do with the Joint Security Agreement between the two countries.
Since on Wednesday, videos showing the Senegalese forces in Sare Omar being peacefully confronted by villagers have been making rounds on social media and Gambians have since been reacting to the Senegalese military presence in the country.
Written by The Digest News