Gambian security sources have confirmed to The Alkamba Times (TAT) another gunfight between the MFDC, and Senegalese soldiers patrolling the border.
Gambia Armed Forces spokesperson, Captain Malick Sanyang confirmed that the clashes happened, but was quick to add that the skirmishes occurred on the Senegalese side of the border.
This latest clash came after the two sides clashed in January, reported in Gambian territory and displaced Gambians in villages on the border with the southern Senegalese region of Casamance.
The clash also comes barely a month after the MFDC released seven Senegalese soldiers it captured them, after successful mediation by Ecowas and the Gambia government.
“As far as we know, there have been clashes between the Senegalese forces and MFDC, but it happened on the Senegalese side of the border, the GAF spokesperson told TAT.
He said the Senegalese soldiers serving under Ecomig in the Gambia were not Involved.
The reported fighting follows the deployment of the Gambia Armed Forces Quick Reaction Force (QRF) to the border, following the January incident, which has provided security and given confidence to Gambians living in the Fonis and the border villages.
“Our involvement as far GAF is to ensure that our side of the border is perfectly secured by our men. Since our deployment we have not seen or heard any incident there,” Captain Sanyang said.
It would be recalled that in 2017 Senegalese troops were deployed to The Gambia as part of Ecowas forces, to enforce President Adama Barrow’s election victory when ex-president Yahya Jammeh refused to accept defeat.
The MFDC is a separatist movement engaged in the conflict in Casamance, which dates back to 1982 and has claimed thousands of victims.
