After
being relieved of his duty, Lt. Gen. Masanneh N. Kinteh, the former Chief of
Defence Staff of The Gambia Armed Forces, has on Tuesday handed over command of
baton to Maj. Gen. Yankuba Drammeh.
Lt.
Gen. Kinteh was relieved by President Adama Barrow, the commander-in-chief of
The Gambia Armed Forces on 5 March 2020.
In
his farewell remarks, Lt. Gen. Masaneh Kinteh said when he assumed the role of
Chief of Defence Staff of The Gambia Armed Forces, he made sure people
understand that Armed Forces was here for them and support the country in
democratic transition.
He
said that he craved out a vision for a highly transformed, motivated,
non-political and non-tribally inclined Armed Forces that is fully equipped and
prepared to execute the constitutional roles and contributing meaningfully to
the national development.
He
cited one of his achievements, saying they have made it possible by creating a
Directorate of Peacekeeping Corporation.
His
successor, Maj. Gen. Yankuba Drammeh in his statement said, at the advent of
the new political dispensation in 2017, the Gambia Armed Forces outlined
ambitious and attainable target to restructure the Armed Forces in strict
conformity with the expectation of the Gambian people and by extension the
international community.
“These
strategy decisions are based on strong promises; to have a vibrant, effective
and professional armed forces that is transparent, subordinate and accountable
to civilian authority. Secondly, an armed forces that is responsive to the
needs and aspirations of Gambians and non-Gambians and also armed forces whose
actions are firmly butted within the rule of law and other international
standards,” he said.
“In
order to redeem our image, members of the Gambia armed forces must remain
apolitical and professionally responsive in the discharge of the well defined
constitutional mandate.”
He
applauded Gen. Kinteh for his outstanding efforts in the Gambia Armed Forces.
