Gambia: release of seven Senegalese soldiers hostages of the MFDC in Casamance

Senegalese soldiers from ECOWAS deployed in The Gambia.

(Illustrative image) AFP - CARL DE SOUZA

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

In The Gambia, seven soldiers from the West African mission in The Gambia were released on Monday, February 14, 2022, at midday by Casamance rebels.

They were held hostage after a clash that occurred on January 24.

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The very sober ceremony took place in the absence

.

All seven servicemen appeared healthy, safe and sound.

They arrived hands free, surrounded by rebels.

Major absentees from this ceremony: the rebel leader therefore, but also the authorities of Dakar and Banjul who did not send a representative.

The speeches were preceded by a rather administrative episode: without a word, each soldier signed a paper attesting to his release.

Document countersigned by the Nigerian Claude Kondor, who represents ECOWAS.

A small moment of tension occurred when the rebels decided for a time to retain objects belonging to the military.

Their watches, their helmets and their bulletproof vests, in particular.

The handover of Ecomig prisoners

took place in rural areas, near the border with Senegal.

Some personalities made the trip, through winding tracks in the middle of the forest.

Alongside the ECOWAS representative are two members of the ICRC, as well as a leader of the Sant'Egidio community, a community that acted as a mediator to promote this release.

This delegation thanked Salif Sadio for this " 

 ".

For his part, last week, the rebel leader had reiterated, on our antenna, his desire to accelerate discussions around peace in Casamance.

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• Gambia

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