Editorial

The existence of peace is more than mere absence of war, hunger and other numerous human and natural disasters in the world. Peace has to begin right in our hearts and roll down to the community, national and global level.

Blessed are the peacemakers and they shall be heirs of the world. The Gambia, under President Jammeh has placed strong emphasis on the need to have peace, progress and prosperity in the country, Africa and the world at large. Such was and continues to be the rationale behind Gambian men and women serving in peacekeeping missions in different countries in the world.

GAMCOY 14will soon be leaving The Gambia for the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur to replace GAMCOY 13 and join their counterparts from other countries across the world. We wish to assure them that our hearts are with them and pray for their safe stay in the next six months and return to rejoin their beloved families and loved ones. It is indeed a pride and noteworthy that Gambian men and women have been keeping the peace in Darfur from 2004 to date, which is a very good record in the history of the country’s contributions toward restoration of peace and stability abroad.

As the president himself stated as he bade farewell to the departing soldiers, they must endeavour to be good ambassadors of the country so that they can continue to maintain the good image of the country. This is essential because Gambian peacekeepers are rated by international organisations such as the United Nation (UN) the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other numerous regional organisations as amongst the best peacekeeping missions throughout the history of peacekeeping operations in the world. This rating was based on exhibition of rare gallantry qualities towards restorations of peace and other areas of operations on the part of the Gambian security apparatus.

They operate with the highest sense of discipline, commitment, integrity coupled with the striking desire to restore peace to the people of their host countries. Our security personnel have been raising the Gambian flag high from the inception of peacekeeping operations. They have made us proud despite our size and population. The departing soldiers should therefore maintain that record.