The Civic Scribe: Articles & Poems

While democracies grapple with threats like disinformation, The Gambia faces a more tangible crisis: the enduring presence of foreign troops eight years after their deployment to restore democracy. What began as a celebrated regional rescue mission has evolved into a contentious symbol of compromised sovereignty.

From Liberation to Lingering Presence
In 2017, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) launched “Operation Restore Democracy” when dictator Yahya Jammeh refused to accept electoral defeat. Around 7,000 troops, primarily Senegalese with support from Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, and Togo, swiftly ensured President-elect Adama Barrow took office, forcing Jammeh to flee without bloodshed. Initially hailed as liberators, the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) represented a successful African-led intervention.

Today, however, the mission’s downsized but persistent force of roughly 500 troops, mostly Senegalese, fuels deep resentment. Their role extends far beyond training; they provide close protection for President Barrow himself and patrol critical infrastructure like the port, airport, and borders. This deep integration into core state functions prompts a fundamental question: when does a protective shield become an occupation?

Mounting Discontent and Divided Opinions
Public frustration is palpable. Concerns about uncontrolled borders, foreign land acquisitions, and economic dominance by non-Gambians are frequently voiced alongside accusations that the nation’s security and sovereignty are under threat. This discontent has turned violent; protests against the perceived “occupying force” led Senegalese soldiers to open fire in 2017, killing one demonstrator and wounding others. Polling reveals a nation sharply divided over ECOMIG’s presence, with a significant portion of the public wanting the troops to leave, even as trust remains relatively high in the Gambian armed forces themselves. This highlights a contradiction: confidence in domestic institutions coexists with a perception of instability and unease about the foreign military footprint.

The Security Justification: A Fragile State
President Barrow and ECOWAS commanders defend the prolonged deployment with stark warnings. They cite persistent threats from loyalists of the exiled dictator Jammeh, who allegedly maintain networks both inside and outside the country aiming to destabilize the government. Clashes between ECOMIG forces and alleged pro-Jammeh elements have occurred. Crucially, the Security Sector Reform (SSR) process, initiated in 2017 to depoliticize and democratize the military and police after Jammeh’s oppressive rule, remains incomplete. Distrust lingers between Barrow and factions within the Gambian military. Barrow argues ECOMIG provides essential security backup and training during this fragile transition, ostensibly at no direct cost to Gambian taxpayers.

The Heavy Toll on Sovereignty
This reliance, however, extracts significant costs:

1. Erosion of Democratic Legitimacy: A president guarded by foreign troops struggles to project authentic national authority. It visually undermines the social contract, fostering perceptions that Barrow’s security depends on external actors, not Gambian institutions or popular consent, corroding democratic consolidation.
2. Hindered Security Development: Critics argue the perpetual ECOMIG safety net discourages the urgent reform and capacity-building within Gambia’s own security forces. Why expedite creating a credible, loyal military if foreign troops fill the gap? This creates a dangerous dependency.
3. Fueling Resentment and Division: The prominence of Senegalese troops taps into historical sensitivities. Surrounded almost entirely by Senegal, The Gambia has long resisted unification discussions, valuing its distinct cultural and political identity. ECOMIG’s composition allows Jammeh loyalists and nationalists to frame it as Senegalese overreach.
4. The “Perception Hack”: Much like disinformation aims to make nations distrust themselves, ECOMIG’s enduring presence risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy of Gambian state weakness. It signals the country cannot manage its own security, potentially deterring investment and emboldening malign actors.

Reclaiming Sovereignty: A Path Forward
An abrupt ECOMIG withdrawal could trigger chaos. The solution lies in a credible, accelerated transition plan focused on restoring Gambian agency:

• Fast-Track Security Reform: The sluggish SSR must be invigorated with clear, measurable benchmarks and a firm deadline for ECOMIG’s departure, directly tied to verifiable progress in building a professional, apolitical military and police. International partners should significantly increase funding and technical support specifically for this goal.
• Transparency and Gambianization: ECOMIG’s mandate and activities require regular, public review by the Gambian National Assembly. President Barrow must visibly invest in and empower Gambian protective units, progressively reducing the conspicuous role of foreign bodyguards.
• Regional Frameworks Against Subversion: ECOWAS should develop permanent mechanisms to counter cross-border disinformation and political meddling – the real tools authoritarians use – reducing the justification for boots on the ground.
• Empowering Civil Society: Building resilient democracy requires more than army reform. Supporting independent media, judiciary, and anti-corruption bodies creates societal resilience against tyranny, diminishing the perceived need for external military props.

The Gambia’s dilemma reflects a global challenge: how democracies accept assistance without succumbing to dependency. Foreign intervention can save nascent democracies, but it cannot nurture them to maturity. True security stems from legitimacy, not just firepower. The continued image of a Gambian president guarded by foreign soldiers symbolizes not enduring solidarity, but unrealized sovereignty. For democracy to take firm root, The Gambia must ultimately stand – and protect itself – on its own. A clear, responsible exit strategy for ECOMIG is now essential, lest the mission launched to save democracy becomes the obstacle to its full realization.