The
Senegalese ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia on Wednesday joined their
country to celebrate 58 years of independence.
The
celebration which brought together, the head of ECOMIG mission in the Gambia,
Vabah Gayflor, Senegalese ambassador in The Gambia, H.E Professor Saliou Ndiaye
and the deputy chief of Defence Staff, Major General Yakubu Drammeh and ECOMIG
Forces commander, Fulgence Ndour amongst others was held at the ECOMIG
Headquarters in Fajara.
Speaking
at the ceremony, Senegalese Ambassador Ndiaye paid tribute to families of their
fallen soldiers and veterans who represent an inexhaustible source of honour
and courage for their generations to come, adding that their nation will be
eternally grateful to them.
“This
kind of emotion added respect because they (the Senegalese soldiers) have
chosen to exercise one of the finest crafts – the profession of arms,” he said.
On
behalf of President Macky Sall, he thanked the Senegalese forces in
contributing to the stabilisation of peace in The Gambia
He
also hailed their Gambian counterparts for joining them in the celebration.
For
his part, Saliou Ngum, the head of Operation, Senegalese ECOMIG contingent
said: “Since 1960 to date, our first
engagement to peace support operations was in the late Zaire where Senegal
deployed 600 blue headed UN peacekeepers. More than 50, 000 Senegalese soldiers
have participated in external operations conducted under the banner of the
United Nations, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which later became the
bilateral defence agreements or coalition between the African Union (AU),
ECOWAS,” he said.
He added that in the same vein, the
recognition of their national competence and military expertise in contributing
to the peace effort in the world has been illustrated by the appointment of
senior Senegalese military authorities to lead UN operations.
In
the sub-region, he said their solidarity-based defense policy, and action are
part of the consolidating a good relationship with their neighbours by
contributing to strengthening peace as well as creating a good climate for
mutual trust.