The President of the Gambia, Adama Barrow has decided to relief Ousmane Badjie who served as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) under former President Yahya Jammeh of his position. But the president is redeploying him to Foreign Service although there are no clear details what that new role will be.
Ousmane Badjie who during the political crisis in The Gambia pledged his allegiance to Mr. Jammeh was maintained by President Barrow when he assumed office to the surprise of many Gambians and analysts.
At the time former leader Yahya Jammeh refused to leave power peacefully, Mr. Badjie urged Gambians not to panic since his soldiers were not going to engage in a fight with the ECOWAS troops sent into Banjul to oust Mr. Jammeh.
‘‘Let them (Gambians) not fear, there is not going to be any war or any fighting here. If our brothers (ECOWAS troops) even if they come, we are going to welcome them with a cup of tea, and they will put their weapons there and we will enjoy the smiling coast of Africa, honestly” Badjie told DW.
He further said in that interview that ‘‘Why should we fight for any reason? Let everybody tell me. This is a political misunderstanding. There is no military solution to a political problem, let me tell you that, and we are not fools. I love my soldiers and I love the Gambian people, nobody is going to be hot here, take it from me,’‘
Badjie is to be replaced by Masaneh Kinteh who previously served as the Chief of Defence Staff between 2009 and 2012.
He had also served as The Gambia’s Chief of Mission in Havana, Cuba.
Source: Africafeeds.com
