This action serves as a wake-up call for the authorities of The Gambia, Senegal and Mauritania, to work collectively to ensure proper security measures are put in place to keep their territories secure and safe.
Indeed there is a need for collaboration among these nations by sharing intelligence reports, intensifying patrols across porous borders, and beefing up security presence to face any eventualities.
The jihadists, it must be noted, are well trained, equipped and financially strong. Already they have gained strength and strategic positions in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Benin, and Nigeria. Recently these countries have experienced series of attacks by extremist groups, which claimed lots of lives.
Mr President, the surge in jihadist activities in the region is not unexpected as these armed groups remain active in all the areas they have penetrated and are operating in. Occasionally they target military and other security installations killing and maiming those they encounter and creating huge carnage.
Mr President, the ECOWAS had a very strong relationship with the three nations of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger now called Alliance of Sahel States, but the breakaway from the ECOWAS bloc has created a weak link in the regional body. Presently these three states are still reluctant to work fully with ECOWAS, who threatened military intervention to get those junta regimes out of power and let the countries return to the bloc.
The threat was basically legal as per the mandate of ECOWAS but the effect of the sanctions on the 3 nations was far reaching, as it threatened their continued control of the various countries; sothey decided to work together against all odds, which led to the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States.
Mr President, intelligence sharing is very important. Through such networks security apparatuses get forehand information about threats and imminent attacks or suspicious activities, and it helps them to be alert to phase out such challenges.
But the absence of such an information-sharing link is very pronounced now, and it is best that ECOWAS engages the Sahel States to get them back to the fold and cement their military strength and exchange.
Meanwhile, the secession of the states in the new Sahel alliance from the ECOWAS bloc and the problems in Sudan and Libya are a huge cause for concern.
The silence of nations in the sub-region against this upsurge of violence isn’t good at all. The ECOWAS states have to continue to seriously discuss the rift in their midst and try to exchange notes and intelligence regarding the activities of the jihadists.
The split does not favour any of the states in the ECOWAS or the Alliance. If they could meet urgently and thrash out modalities for collaboration, they could efface the threat of the jihadists effectively.
Mr President, there are many factors playing into the hands of the jihadists one of which is the current rift in the ECOWAS. Other factors include the illegal migration of the youth, who take the perilous route of the ‘backway’ to Europe. These youths are exposed to the activities of the jihadists in the Sahel and could easily be caught and inducted either willingly or forcefully into the jihadist movement.
Mr President, it has also be noted that the jihadists are now using, as their new tactics, motorcycles to carry out their attacks instead of road vehicles.
Motorcycles are easier to manoeuvre within forests and sandy areas, which makes swift attacks possible without the attackers being arrested or overpowered.
In conclusion, Mr President, it is advisable that regular checks be done at all checkpoints and border entering points of The Gambia to be on the safer side.
Good day!