The Government of The Gambia has issued a press release where it notes with serious concern the ongoing developments in Sudan leading to the deterioration of the security situation and eruption of fighting in the country between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
This development is not only ‘worrisome and scary’, but comes at a time when the international community least expects such from a country that has chosen peace over backwardness this past year.
The truth of the matter is, in this day and age, war has no place in our modern society. As developing nations, African countries should be thinking inwards and how to make gains in the field of science, technology, agriculture and commerce etc.
Countries in the continent should be fast looking forward to development initiatives aimed at bettering the living condition of their own citizens. Therefore, war should not even be the last resort in settling score these days.
Unfortunately, what is happening in this Northeast African nation leaves much to be desired.
To this end, the Gambia calls for an immediate ceasefire, cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor for the provision of urgent humanitarian assistance to victims and the affected civilian population. We commend the government for the move.
What is even difficult to understand is when will Africa be free from wars and other negative vices?
We should not let our politicians divide us. It’s so sad to see fellow African brothers fighting and killing each other just over senseless wars.
As developing nations are banking on foreign aid from the West, we should instead be looking forward to ways to end dependence on foreign aid. But no. politicians are busy on daily basis creating fractions just to tighten their grip on power.
Indeed, this latest incident has taken the international community aback after all the frantic efforts made to bring peace or normalcy in this Northeast African nation, which in the past decade have chosen war over development. Now it seems all those efforts have been thrown into the bin.
And that has cost the country a lot. Parties in this conflict should give peace a chance. They should also remember that war is an expensive enterprise.
This in fact reminds us about the popular quote by Yash Tomar, a young popular Indian actor, model and fashion influencer that ‘War is never won by a Soldier or a Country. At the end of the Day, War is Always Won by Tragedy’.
Regarding the situation of Gambians, the Government hereby informs the general public that, so far, no incident affecting Gambian nationals have been recorded and that all the 58 recorded Gambian students in the country are currently safe, according to a press release.
We therefore, applaud the Government of The Gambia for sharing with the public the situation of 58 Gambian students currently in Sudan and what the government is doing to ensure the safety of its citizens and all Gambian students and nationals in the Sudan.