This development is the first of its kind since the formation of the United Nations.
It is also the first of its kind since the formation of the African Union and ECOWAS for the two countries to work as partners under one umbrella for the promotion and maintenance of global peace.
This development was unveiled on Tuesday as the Bangladeshi Army Chief General S.M. Shafiuddin Ahmed visited the Gambia Armed Forces’ Training School in Fajara Barracks in Bakau where he embarked on an inspection mission.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the activities, the Chief of Defense Staff, Lt. General Yankuba A. Drammeh, revealed that the purpose of the Bangladesh Army Chief General’s working visit to The Gambia was to make an assessment and make an informed decision to look at what the convergences are.
He said this came after the UN shared a proposal with the Gambia Armed Forces about the possibility of co-deploying with Bangladesh. He added that when this proposal was shared with them from their permanent missions at the United Nations, they in the Gambia Armed Forces received the message with delight and optimism.
“On that basis, His Excellency, President Adama Barrow was adequately briefed and he also consented to it, and as the commander in chief in line with the constitution, he has the prerogative to accept when and where the Gambia Armed Forces would be deployed through normal processes,” he said.
He noted that the Parliament would be informed as well.
“From that moment we started putting all the mechanisms to actualise this proposal and on that basis, last February, President Adama Barrow tasked a high-powered delegation led by the Foreign Affairs Minister to undertake what we called worldwide mission to Bangladesh to convey their special request,” CDS Drammeh told journalists.
“Bangladesh is the largest contributing country when it comes to the United Nations peace mission. They have over 8000 troops in the UN in all dimensions at the level of military, aviation and at the sea-level.”
He added that when the proposal was shared with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh in principle, she accepted the proposal.
“From there, both sides have been in consultations with Bangladesh, with the UN serving as a mediator to put in place the mechanisms, procedures and programmes to see a joint deployment between Bangladesh and GAF,” he said.
CDS Drammeh thanked the government of Bangladesh for availing the Gambia Armed Forces a rare opportunity to co-deplore with “fine men and women” in uniform.
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