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ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia

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"Operation Restore Democracy" redirects here. For the military intervention in Haiti, see Operation Uphold Democracy.

The ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia or the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (abbreviated ECOMIG)[14] – initially code-named Operation Restore Democracy – is a military intervention in The Gambia by several member states of the Economic Community of West African States.

ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia
Part of the 2016–2017 Gambian constitutional crisis (first three days of the intervention)


Top: Senegalese army troops gather at the border with Gambia on 19 January
Bottom:
  •   The Gambia
  •   ECOWAS Coalition
Date19 January 2017 – Present
Location
The Gambia
Result

Ongoing

  • Amidst the Gambian constitutional crisis, ECOWAS intervenes in the country militarily (at the request of Adama Barrow) without resistance from pro-Jammeh forces.[6]
  • Jammeh leaves the country as forces approach Banjul, and Barrow arrives as President days later.
  • 2,500 ECOWAS troops remain in The Gambia.
  • Clash between ECOWAS forces and alleged Pro-Jammeh elements in The Gambian military in April 2017.
  • Protests against continued presence of ECOWAS forces.
Belligerents

Pro-Jammeh forces

ECOWAS forces

Commanders and leaders
Yahya Jammeh Surrendered
Benjamin Yeaten		 Adama Barrow
Macky Sall
Muhammadu Buhari
Nana Akufo-Addo
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta[7]
Faure Gnassingbé[8]
Strength
180
1,733 foreign mercenaries[2]		 7,000 soldiers[4]
200–800 soldiers[9]
1 warship NNS Unity (F92)[10]
205 soldiers[11]
~125 Gambian navy soldiers[5]
Casualties and losses

Troops from ECOWAS entered The Gambia in January 2017 following long-time Gambian President Yahya Jammeh's refusal to step down after his loss in the 2016 presidential election to Adama Barrow. This ultimately ended the 2016-17 Gambian constitutional crisis.

Forces entered the country on 19 January at the request of Barrow, who was sworn in that day as the new president at the Gambian embassy in Dakar, Senegal. As troops reached the capital, Banjul, Jammeh stepped down and left the country. Following his departure, 4,000 ECOWAS troops remained in The Gambia to maintain order in preparation for Barrow to return and consolidate his presidency. A week after his inauguration, Barrow returned to the country while requesting the 2,500 troops stay for at least six months to help him firmly establish order. He has renewed this request several times, and ECOWAS forces still remain in the country as of June 2023, training and assisting domestic security forces.[15][16][17]

Although there were some reports of isolated minor clashes during the first few hours of the military incursion in January 2017, there were no reports of casualties in the initial conflict. In the following months, two civilians were reported to have been killed in incidents surrounding protests against the continued military presence in the community.

Intervention (19–21 January 2017)

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Some 45,000 refugees fled across the border into Senegal after Jammeh's refusal to step down on 18 January.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided to intervene militarily in the Gambian constitutional crisis that occurred as a result of Gambian President Yahya Jammeh refusing to step down after losing the December 2016 presidential election, and set 19 January 2017 as the date the troops would move into the Gambia if Jammeh continued to refuse to step down.[18] The operation was named "Operation Restore Democracy".[19] ECOWAS forces were amassed around the borders of the Gambia, and Marcel Alain de Souza, the president of ECOWAS, said, "By land, sea and air, (the) Gambia is surrounded. A total of 7,000 men will participate in the mission to re-establish democracy in Gambia."[4] In contrast, the entire armed forces of the Gambia numbered only about 2,500 troops.[20]

On 19 January, Adama Barrow, who had been staying in Senegal due to fear for his safety in the Gambia, was sworn in as President in the Gambian embassy in Dakar, Senegal.[21]

Just after Barrow was sworn in,[22] the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously approved UNSC Resolution 2337 on the same day, which expressed support for ECOWAS efforts to negotiate the transition of the presidency, but requested the use of "political means first" without endorsing military action.[23]

Despite the lack of endorsement of military action by the UNSC, Senegalese armed forces entered the Gambia on the same day, along with some forces from Ghana, with air and sea support from the Air Force and Navy of Nigeria.[24][22][19] Gambia was placed under a naval blockade.[5]

In the early hours of the offensive, clashes took place near the border village of Kanilai, the home town of Yahya Jammeh, between Senegalese and pro-Jammeh MFDC forces, and Senegal reportedly took control of the village.[25][26] Senegal halted its offensive in order to provide a final chance to mediate the crisis, with the invasion planned to proceed at noon on 20 January if Jammeh still refused to relinquish power.[27]

According to a statement given by the United Nations Refugee Agency on 20 January based on estimates provided by the government of Senegal, around 45,000 people had been displaced and had fled to Senegal, and at least 800 more people had fled to Guinea-Bissau.[13] More than 75% of the displaced people arriving in Senegal were children, with the remainder being mostly women.[13]

Jammeh, however, refused to step down even after the deadline passed. The deadline was extended to 16:00 GMT which too he missed.[28] Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, President of Guinea Alpha Condé and United Nations' regional chief Mohammed Ibn Chambas tried to persuade him to step down.[29][30] Gambia's army chief General Ousman Badjie meanwhile pledged allegiance to Barrow and stated that the Gambian Army would not fight ECOWAS.[31] Barrow and a Senegalese official later stated that Jammeh had agreed to step down.[32][33][34] Diplomats meanwhile stated that Senegalese troops would remain deployed at the border in case he reneged on the deal.[35] A deal was later announced for him to leave the country for exile,[36] and a short time later he announced on state television that he was stepping down.[37]

Stabilisation (21 January 2017–present)

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After Jammeh went into exile on 21 January (initially going to Guinea and then to Equatorial Guinea), ECOWAS announced that about 4,000 of its troops would remain stationed in the country for ensuring security.[38][39]

On 26 January 2017, Barrow returned to the Gambia, while about 2,500 ECOWAS troops remained in the country to stabilise it. He requested the troops to remain in the country for an additional six months. The troops remained in Banjul, and at important locations such as the port and airport as well as at the main crossing points to Senegal.[17]

On 8 February 2017, the Gambian presidential office announced that the mandate of the mission would be extended by three more months.[40] President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo stated in mid-February that the number of Ghanaian soldiers deployed for stabilisation of Gambia will be downsized to 50.[41]

On 21 April 2017, ECOWAS forces clashed with Gambian soldiers loyal to former leader Yahya Jammeh, shooting and injuring three who were guarding graves at his home. A Gambia Armed Forces spokesman said there was a misunderstanding and an investigation is in progress.[42] One civilian was declared by Gambian government to have been killed in Kanilai in a protest against ECOWAS forces while a civilian and an ECOMIG officer was declared to be injured on 2 June, with 22 arrests made.[43]

On 2 June 2017, one protester was shot dead and nine were wounded by Senegalese soldiers in Kanilai after soldiers opened fire on protesters in what they described as "self-defense" during a protest in which thousands participated against the heavy military presence in their community.[44][45][46]

The term of the ECOWAS military mission was extended by a year on 5 June 2017, with it being further extended until 2021.[47][48] It was then once again extended, and ECOWAS forces still remain in the country as of June 2023.[49][50][17]

The public has been lukewarm to the continued presence of ECOWAS forces, with polls showing over 50% of the Gambian public wanting them to leave the country.[51] President Barrow has argued that the continued presence of foreign forces are there to provide support and training to Gambian forces and that there is no cost to the Gambian people.[52]

Participating forces

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The intervention force was composed of Senegalese, Ghanaian, Malian, Togolese and Nigerian forces. Nigeria provided aircraft and naval assets.[4][20]

The Gambian army chief declared that the army would not involve itself in a political dispute, while the navy chose to declare its support for Barrow.[53][5] However, some paramilitaries and mercenaries stayed loyal to Jammeh.[54][5][2] The Senegalese rebel group Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance reportedly joined pro-Jammeh forces and there were reported clashes on the border with Senegal.[2]

International response

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References

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  1. ^ "Jammeh's party petitions Supreme Court to halt Barrow's investiture". AfricaNews. 20 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e Kwanue, C. Y. (18 January 2017). "Gambia: Jammeh 'Imports Rebels'". allAfrica. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  3. ^ Ewubare, Kess (19 January 2017). "Breaking: Gambian Navy desert Jammeh, declare allegiance to Barrow".
  4. ^ a b c d Jones, Bryony; Westcott, Ben; Masters, James (20 January 2017). "Gambia: Defeated leader Yahya Jammeh faces military showdown". CNN. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e Ewubare, Kess (19 January 2017). "Breaking: Gambian Navy desert Jammeh, declare allegiance to Barrow". Naij. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Gambia crisis: Senegal troops 'enter' to back new president". BBC. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  7. ^ Haddad, Tareq (20 January 2017). "Army operation to enter The Gambia suspended for last-ditch talks". International Business Times. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  8. ^ Alike, Ejiofor (15 January 2017). "Gambia: Use of Force Imminent As Ecowas Plans to Oust Jammeh". allAfrica. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Nigeria sends troops, jets to Senegal for Gambia force". Yahoo.com. 18 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Nigerian troops, warship head for Gambia: Punch – News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)". Nan.ng. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Ghana to deploy troops to Gambia border – ITV News". Itv.com. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  12. ^ "At least 26,000 people flee Gambia to Senegal as refugees -UN". Thomson Reuters Foundation. Archived from the original on 20 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  13. ^ a b c Baloch, Babar (20 January 2017). "Senegal: Around 45,000 have fled political uncertainty in The Gambia". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  14. ^ "ECOMIG forces explain mandate in Gambia".
  15. ^ Petesch, Carley (26 January 2017). "Gambia's new president returning to nation as new era begins". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  16. ^ Farge, Emma; Bavier, Joe (26 January 2017). "Gambia's Barrow asks regional force to stay for six months". Yahoo News. Reuters. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  17. ^ a b c Petesch, Carley (26 January 2017). "Throngs cheer new president's triumphant return to Gambia". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  18. ^ "ECOWAS okays military intervention in Gambia, joint troops stationed at border". AfricaNews. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  19. ^ a b "Senegal army says regional force has launched strikes in Gambia". The Jerusalem Post. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  20. ^ a b "Senegal troops move to Gambia border as Jammeh faces ultimatum". BBC. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  21. ^ "Gambia's new president has been sworn in at an embassy in Senegal because the old one won't leave". Quartz. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  22. ^ a b "New Gambia President Adama Barrow takes oath in Senegal". Al Jazeera. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  23. ^ Akwuobi Kenneth. "The role of ECOWAS on The Gambia political crisis between 2016 – 2017 (Reviewed)". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  24. ^ "Gambia crisis: Senegal troops 'enter' to back new president". BBC. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  25. ^ okdakar2. "Video: Vidéo: Kanilai est tombé avec la base arrière de Yahya Jammeh. Les troupes sont en route pour Banjul". OKDAKAR (in French). Retrieved 20 January 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[permanent dead link]
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  27. ^ Reporter (20 January 2017). "West African Reactions On The Invasion of The Gambia". Grandmother Africa. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Gambia crisis: Jammeh misses second deadline to step down". BBC. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  29. ^ "The Gambia: Jammeh ignores two more deadlines to quit". The Guardian. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  30. ^ Pilling, David (19 January 2017). "Gambia braced for military intervention if Jammeh refuses to step down". Financial Times. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  31. ^ "Gambia army chief recognizes President Barrow as commander-in-chief". Reuters. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  32. ^ "Gambia's Yahya Jammeh 'agrees to step down'". Al Jazeera. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  33. ^ "Gambia's Jammeh 'to quit and leave', says Adama Barrow". BBC. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  34. ^ "Gambia's defeated leader agrees to cede power: Official". The New York Times. Associated Press. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  35. ^ Colin Freeman (20 January 2017). "Gambia's Yahya Jammeh 'agrees to step down' peacefully and red carpet is rolled out at the airport, amid last-ditch negotiations". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  36. ^ Ruth Maclean (20 January 2017). "The Gambia: deal announced for defeated president to leave country". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  37. ^ "Gambia's Yahya Jammeh confirms he will step down". Al Jazeera. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  38. ^ Cocks, Tim; Jahateh, Lamin (21 January 2017). "Gambia's former leader Jammeh flies into exile in Equatorial Guinea". Reuters. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  39. ^ BBC News (22 January 2016). "Ex-President Yahya Jammeh leaves The Gambia after losing election". BBC News. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  40. ^ "Regional Force's Mission in Gambia Extended by Three Months". Voice of America.
  41. ^ "Ghana to maintain 50 troops in Gambia | General News 2017-02-22". Ghanaweb.com. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  42. ^ "Gambia soldiers, regional forces clash outside Jammeh home". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017.
  43. ^ Ismail Akwei (2 June 2017). "Protest against ECOWAS forces in Jammeh's village claims one life". africanews. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  44. ^ "Gambia: Foni Protester Died Of Gunshot Wound". Jollofnews. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  45. ^ "Gambia: Two Injured In Foni Anti-ECOMIG Protest". Jollofnews. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  46. ^ "ECOMIG Forces Allegedly Shoot Protesters, Kill 1 and Injure 9 at Kanilai". Daily Observer. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  47. ^ "West African regional bloc extends military mission in Gambia". Reuters. 5 June 2017.
  48. ^ "Timeline: A history of ECOWAS military interventions in three decades". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  49. ^ Petesch, Carley (26 January 2017). "Gambia's new president returning to nation as new era begins". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  50. ^ Farge, Emma; Bavier, Joe (26 January 2017). "Gambia's Barrow asks regional force to stay for six months". Yahoo News. Reuters. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  51. ^ "Hard times ahead for the African Union in The Gambia". Institute for Security Studies. 21 April 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  52. ^ Olawoyin, Oladeinde (8 December 2021). "West Africa: Why ECOWAS Troops Are Still in the Gambia – Barrow". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  53. ^ "We are not going to involve ourselves in any fight – Gambian army chief". AfricaNews. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  54. ^ "Military intervention looms as Jammeh clings to power". Al Jazeera. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  55. ^ Holding, APA Information Agency, APA (20 January 2017). "US supports Senegal military intervention in Gambia". Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  56. ^ "Boris Johnson urges unseated Gambian president Yahya Jammeh to stand down". Belfast Telegraph. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  57. ^ "China calls for 'cool-headed' resolution of Gambia crisis". Reuters. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  58. ^ "Security Endorses Recognition by African Union, Regional States, of Adama Barrow as President-Elect of Gambia, Unanimously Adopting 2337 (2017)". United Nations. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  59. ^ M. Lederer, Edith (19 January 2017). "UN adopts resolution backing Gambia's new President Barrow". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
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