On Monday the ECOMIG troops and MFDC separatists had some fire-fight leading to the death of two ECOMIG soldiers under the Senegalese Contingent.
Many Gambians who settled along the borderline have also moved to neighbouring communities causing mess for residents.
However, the situation has attracted mixed feelings among Gambians including Dembo Kambi, former chairperson for the National Youth Council (NYC).
“On behalf of my family, friends and colleagues in the West Coast Region (WCR), and most especially in the Fonis, I call on the government of The Gambia to put the plights, peace and safety of our region and her people most priority,” he said on his Facebook page.
The ECOMIG’s main activities in The Gambia are patrolling and security provision to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the country.
However, Kambi warned President Barrow, saying: “If you cannot be a peacemaker between Macky Sall and Casamance, please do not give our territory to Macky Sall to wage a war against the rebels of Casamance.
Kambi called on President Barrow to withdraw any agreement he might have with the Senegalese government regarding Casamance. This, he said, would compromise the peace and security of the West Coast Region of The Gambia.
Lamin Tamba, political activist also wrote on his Facebook timeline, stating that the deadly war that happened in The Gambia has nothing to do with The Gambia.
“It must be condemned and must not repeat again,” he added.
According to residents, several dwellers of borderline communities have moved into settlements far away from the border for security.
However, the young political activist said such an incident has never happened in The Gambia since the Casamance separatist movement started fighting for independence from Senegal.
In an interview with local newspaper, Musa Amul Nyassi said residents of borderline communities who fled to neighbouring communities are traumatized and their children’s education as well have been disrupted.
However, he called on The Gambia and Senegalese governments to converge urgently to resolve the dispute to ensure peace in the area.
According to The Africa-European Union Partnership project, the main activities of patrolling and security provision are carried out diligently by ECOMIG forces, which contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the country.
The document further said ECOMIG has a good track record. It has been successful in preventing violence and maintaining stability during the transition from an authoritarian to a democratic government. The political situation has remained stable since the mission started and the new President launched a long-term SSR programme in order to reorganise the entire security apparatus of the country.
However, in a Twitter post, Senegalese President Macky Sall said fighting against the traffic of wood in the south of Bwiam is part of the CEDEAO/ ECOMIG mission in The Gambia.
