Talib Ahmed Bensouda, leader of UNITE and Coalition 2026, has pledged to end the presence of ECOMIG troops in The Gambia and shut down their military bases, including the base in Bwiam, if he wins the December 5 presidential election.
Bensouda made the commitment while addressing supporters during an outreach meeting in Bwiam, Foni, over the weekend. He argued that Gambian security forces should take primary responsibility for protecting the country.
The pledge addresses longstanding concerns among some residents of Foni about the presence of regional military personnel in their area. Bensouda said a government under his leadership would bring the ECOMIG mission to an end and place national security firmly under Gambian control.
“Under President Talib Bensouda, the security of The Gambia will be in the hands of Gambians,” he told supporters, promising that the country would “say bye-bye to ECOMIG.”
The Coalition 2026 leader also sought to position his movement as a credible alternative to President Adama Barrow and the ruling alliance. He expressed confidence that his coalition could defeat the incumbent in December.
ECOMIG, the ECOWAS military intervention mission, was deployed to The Gambia in 2017 following the political crisis that erupted after the December 2016 presidential election. Its presence was intended to support the peaceful transfer of power after former president Yahya Jammeh refused to step down despite losing the election to Barrow.
Bensouda’s pledge places the future of the regional force among the security and sovereignty issues likely to feature in the presidential campaign. His proposal would also raise questions about how a withdrawal would be managed, including the readiness of Gambian security forces to assume full responsibility and the implications for regional security cooperation.
As the election approaches, voters will have an opportunity to assess the competing candidates’ security proposals, including how they intend to balance national control, public safety and relations with regional partners.
