Four
soldiers, including middle to high ranking officers, have been arrested for
apparently refusing to obey orders, regarded as “mutinous act”, The Point has
been informed,
The
spokesperson of the Gambia Armed Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Omar B. Bojang,
confirmed the information, saying the soldiers were arrested on Sunday.
“They
were arrested three days ago. Two of
them were arrested and are being investigated for being part of a WhatsApp chat
group apparently engaged in alleged mutinous acts,” he said. “The other two were arrested for being
complacent in the escape of the third suspect from custody.”
Bojang
said he does not want to give the names, for now, since investigation is going
on and more people could be invited for questioning.
Meanwhile,
GAF yesterday issued a statement condemning “in the strongest term this alleged
act by some disgruntled elements of the Gambia Armed Forces”.
“The
Gambia Armed Forces will continue to embark on threat assessment and analysis
both internally and externally to ensure a more robust and professional force
that would be able to counter any threats both within or outside The Gambia,”
the GAF statement said while assuring the general public that the armed forces
remain focused, intact and vigilant.
Below
is the full statement from GAF.
Some
members of the Gambia Armed Forces are being investigated for being part of a
Whatsapp chat group that has audio recordings that are apparently engaged in
allegedly mutinous acts, defamatory, scandalous and unethical. Members of the Gambia Armed Forces have a
Code of Conduct and Rules and Regulations that governed us. As soldiers once we accept to serve in the
armed forces we surrender certain privileges and rights. This is done to ensure that command and
control is made easier. This is why upon
enlistment, every soldier signs a form called ‘DECLARATION BY SOLDIERS ON ENLISTMENT’
as enshrined in the Gambia Armed Forces Act 1985, Part 1, Section 22. The soldiers make a solemn and sincere
declaration which reads, “I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the
President of the Republic of The Gambia and obey his successor and the
government of The Gambia. I will also
obey all Orders, both written and verbal, given to me by my officers placed
over me and subject myself to all Acts, Regulations and Standing Orders
relating to the Gambia Armed Forces now in force or which may from time to time
be brought into force for so long as I shall serve”.
Furthermore,
it is also incumbent upon every serving member of the Gambia Armed Forces to
sign the Official Secret Act, which barred every serving member/or upon
retirement not to make any unauthorised disclosure in material published in a
speech, lecture or radio or television broadcast, or in press or in book
form. I am aware that I should not
divulge any information gained by me as a result of my appointment to any
unauthorised person, either orally or in writing, without the previous
officials sanction in writing of my head of Department. I understand also that I am liable to be
prosecuted if I publish without officials sanction any information i may
acquire in the course of my tenure of an official appointment (unless it has
already officially been made public) or retain without official sanction any
sketch plan, model, article, note or officials documents which are no longer
needed for my officials duties and that these provisions apply not only during
the period of my appointment but also my appointment has ceased or I have
retired.”
Consequently,
based on these provisions the Gambia Armed Forces has convened a Board of
Inquiry to look into circumstances surrounding the whole of the group. They are also to find out the content of the
messages whether they have any implications to jeopardise national security and
to come up with recommendations.
The
CDS wishes to assure the general public that the Gambia Armed Forces remains
focused, intact, vigilant and alert to continue to deliver the noble services and
keep our beloved motherland secured and peaceful. We will continue to bring about the needed
reform and structuring programs that are required to make the Gambia Armed
Forces more responsive to the needs and aspirations of Gambians especially in
this new democratic dispensation. The
Gambia Armed Forces will continue to embark on training programs, threat
assessment and analysis both internally and externally to ensure a more robust
and professional force that would be able to counter any threats both within or
outside The Gambia.
The
Gambia Armed Forces condemn in the strongest term this alleged act by some
disgruntled elements of the Gambia Armed Forces. Some of the alleged culprits are already
helping our team of investigators.
While
we remain steadfast in the execution of our noble constitutional mandate,
please accept on behalf of the Gambia Armed forces our unalloyed loyalty to the
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the government and people
of The Gambia at all times.
Lieutenant
Colonel Omar B Bojang, Gambia Armed Forces Spokesperson.
