President
Adama Barrow has extended the mandate of the Ecowas Military Intervention force
in The Gambia by three months, subject to renewal.
This
was disclosed in a press statement from the Office of the President sent to The
Point last night.
The
release also gave the rationale behind renaming the National Intelligence
Agency as the State Intelligence Service, saying that all procedures will be
followed through constitutional amendments to ensure “the change we desire for
the people of the Gambia is realized”.
The
following is the full text of the statement from the Office of the President:
ON THE ECOWAS STANDBY FORCE
The
Government of The Gambia expresses deep appreciation to ECOWAS, the AU and the
United Nations for the support provided to The Gambia to ensure that the
verdict of the people delivered at the polls of 1st December 2016 is
upheld.
The
decision made on 17th December 2016 to deploy the ECOWAS Standby Force to the
Republic of The Gambia played a significant role in ensuring that the incumbent
concedes to a peaceful solution of the political impasse that gripped the
country through preventive diplomacy.
The
Standby force is mandated to remain in the service of President Adama Barrow,
the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of The Gambia, until the necessary
conditions for the effective exercise of his power as President of the Republic
of The Gambia are met.
President
Barrow is glad to inform the general public that the Standby Force ECOMIG has
integrated itself into the Security and Military fabric of the Country and its
personnel have blended well with the Security sectors of The Gambia and are
keenly sharing knowledge and experiencein enhancing national unity, peace and
stability in the country.
The
Standby Force has had its mandate extended by three months subject to renewal.
It
could be recalled that Articles 7, 8 and 9 of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty
mandated the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to promote Good Governance
and Democracy, by using mechanism for conflict prevention, management and
resolution, peacekeeping and security. Thus ensuring that President Barrow was
sworn into office on 19 January 2017 in conformity with the Constitution of the
Republic of The Gambia.
On
Detentions Without Trial
President
Adama Barrow said his government is committed to reform the National
Intelligence Agency, a constitutionally-established body, because its functions
have been abused. It has been noted that the NIA under the former regime has
not limited itself to work within its mandate, but has abused the office and
instilled fear amongst citizens.
It
is in this light that the government expressed intent for the change of name of
the NIA to State Intelligence Service and limits its functions to intelligence gathering, analysis and
advice to the relevant arms of government responsible for internal and external
security of the country. All procedures will be followed to ensure the
constitutional amendments to ensure the change we desire for the people of The
Gambia is realized.
Source: Office of President
