Back in December of 2016, some former Gambian soldiers, who were sacked by the former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, had decided to rally their support behind President Adama Barrow, when Jammeh refused to concede defeat.

The soldiers had risked their lives by providing protection for Barrow and his Coalition team at the time. The current Army Deputy Chief of Staff Mamat Cham, Turo Jawneh, and others were part of that defense team to protect and safeguard Barrow’s election victory. They were reinstated into the force, once Barrow assumed power.

Now, three years into Barrow’s rule, some of the soldiers felt that they have been ignored when it comes to access to promotion, pay increment, UN peacekeeping missions among others. They are apparently blaming the retired former Army Chief of Defense Staff Masanneh Kinteh, DCDS Mamat Cham, and Turo Jawneh, the commander of the State Guard for their current plight.

One of the reinstated soldiers, who had burnt down the APRC bureau in Kanifing, where Jammeh had concealed voters’ cards to rig the past elections, has been moved to the Basse camp.

The soldiers have accused Turo Jawneh of not fairly treating them. The list below contains the names of soldiers, who had backed Barrow in the 2016 Presidential elections impasse:
MAMAT CHAM PRESENT DCDS, TURO JAWNEH COMD SG, EBRIMA DAMPHA CAPT, LAMIN SAIDYHAN CAPT, KULUTEH MANNEH 2IC, SAMBOU BARROW NAVY, DODOU TOURAY SSGT, GIBRIL NJIE OPERATION INTELLIGENCE WO2, SANNA SOWE WO2, WO2 SUSO, KARAMO DRAMMEH WO2 CLERK, KINTEH SGT, BALA MUSA SGT, ABOU JASSEY SGT, YAYA SOWE SGT, LAMIN CAMARA CPL, LAMIN SAMBOU INTELLIGENCE, EBRIMA SOWE SGT, EBRIMA JADAMA LCPL, FAFA JOBE SGT, SARA JALLOW SGT, OUSMAN FADERA WO2, LAMIN CAMARA CPL, BUBACARR JALLOW SGT, OUSMAN CAMARA PTE, BAKARY JARJU CPL, BAI SILLA CPL, MODOU JOBE PTE, KARAMBA BARROW LCPE, LAMIN DARBO CPL, SGT JAGNE, OMAR BAH CPL, SADIB CAMARA, SGT DRAMMEH, ANSU CAMARA PTE, ALIEU JOBE PTE, MARIAM FADERA PTE

The soldiers who don’t want to be named, have called on President Barrow to help look into their plight. They have called on The Gambian leader to restraint Turo Jawaneh’s recent move to frustrate and purge them from the force. They also want to be promoted and their salaries increased.