GAMCOY 7 fate in limbo

The fate of the seventh contingent (Gamcoy 7) of 196 officers and soldiers of the Gambia Armed Forces (Gaf), who were scheduled to leave Banjul for the Sudanese troubled region of Darfur on July 1, is still in limbo.

Unimpeachable sources revealed to the Daily Observer that the latest contingent, under the command of Lt Colonel Sainey Bayo, had their departure delayed as the Sudanese authorities had not yet released a landing permit.

Contacted on the issue, Major Lamin Gano, the public relations officer of the Gambia Armed Forces, confirmed the story, noting that The Gambia is not the only country affected by the frozen permit.

Major Gano added that Gamcoy 7 is under the UN peacekeeping mission, and that all other countries under the UN mission to Darfur are waiting for the Sudanese government's clearance.

Gamcoy 7, which includes five female soldiers, is expected to replace Gamcoy 6, who were deployed in December 2007.

However, the Gaf spokesperson stated that the contingent is still on standby and that they would leave anytime the authorities in Khartoum release the landing permit.