19 certified as mission observers

At least 19 military personnel, drawn from different units of the Gambia Armed Forces, were on Friday October 5th certified as military mission observers, after a successful two-week pre-deployment training, at the Fajara Barracks’ Military Training School.

The two-week training course, jointly organised by the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) and Turkey Military Assistance in The Gambia, was aimed at equipping military personnel with adequate information, roles and responsibilities as military observers.

During the two-week pre-deployment training course, participants were exposed to civil military, inspections and verification, mind- awareness, humanitarian concepts, child rights issues, media relations, role of military observers, amongst others.

Addressing the trainees, Captain Kawsu Sanyang, Director of Fajara Barracks Military Training School commended them for taking up the challenge to become military observers in mission areas. He noted that “military observers are very instrumental in missions, hence the needs for all the necessary information and know-how in a bid to enable them live up to expectations”.

For his part, Lt- Colonel Bilent Bulant, Turkey’s Military Adviser to The Gambia, and Course Director for the said training, hailed the commitment and determination of the trainees as demonstrated in the course. He acclaimed the long-standing relationship between The Gambia and Turkey governments, particulary in the area of military cooperation, dating back to the 1980’s.

He added that since then, the cooperation remains fruitful, noting that over 6,000 personnel of GAF were trained by Turkey Military Assistance in The Gambia. While urging the trainees to best utilise the knowledge gained from the programme, Colonel Bilent reaffirmed Tunkey’s resolve to cement the relationships that exist between the two countries. Speaking on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, Cp. Colonel Massaneh Kinteh, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, commended the Turkey’s cooperation with the Gambia Armed Forces, noting that Turkey remains the only country in the world that provides efficient military assistance to the Gambia Armed Forces. Elaborating on the significance of the training, Colonel Kinteh described it “as a manifestation of The Gambia government’s resolve to provide quality and standard military service in various missions”.

He revealed that the Gambia Armed Forces is highly recommended by both AU and the UN, due to their skilful and kind humanitarian nature in peace-keeping missions. To the trainees, Colonel Kinteh noted that “as military observes and analyses situation, they must be able to learn diverse cultures,” he urged. Lt Baba Bojang, a trainee delivered the vote of thanks, while certificates were presented to them at the end of the occasion.