JAKAI REBELS VOWED TO ATTACK GAMBIA!!

As Gambia Detained Jakai Rebels Suspected Drug Dealers

NIA Dispatches Internal Security Director Louis Sambou To Reach A Peace Deal With Jakai

Jakai Rebels Say Siwal Village Is Part Of Casamance And Not Gambia

By Staff Reporter Bakary Gibba & Pa Nderry M’Bai

Email: panderrymbai@gmail.com

Tel: 919-749-6319 

Tensions are mounting between the Casamance rebel faction Jakai, and Gambia’s security forces, following what the rebels called a “cross border” raid which led to the arrest of its members—accused of trafficking one ton of cannabis sativa into the West African country, the Freedom Newspaper can report.  The Jakai rebels said the impounded drugs were intercepted in Senegalese soil, at a border village called Siwal. The rebels have since threatened to attack The Gambia in retaliation to Banjul’s move in stepping its territorial bounds. In response, authorities in The Gambia sent its emissaries to negotiate with the leadership of the Jakai rebels to avoid potential blood birth between the sister neighboring countries.  The Jakai rebels have been linked to killing, and maiming of innocent civilians in the Southern Province of Casamance.

The rebel group in a protest note to Banjul accused Gambian security forces of illegally arresting, and kidnapping its  members during a cross border raid. The rebels maintained that the raided village was part of Senegal, and it was wrong for Banjul to violate international treaties on state sovereignty.

Intelligence sources in Banjul said they have been briefed about a potential attack against The Gambia to be spearheaded by the Jakai rebels. Our sources said the Director of Internal Security at the NIA Louis Sambou went as far as contacting the Camp Commander of the  Jakai rebel group in Casamance—with the view of trying to reach a deal with the rebels. Mr. Sambou could not get any positive results from his peace deal initiative with the Jakai rebels, who have once been accused by President Jammeh of being sympathetic to the administration of President Wade of Senegal. Mr. Jammeh even claimed that the Jakai rebels were being funded by the Wade administration.

The rebel group had fallen out with its main body the MFDC, following leadership struggle within the rank and file of the rebel movement. The rebels have been fighting for Casamance’s independence for decades.   

Following Louis Sambou’s unsuccessful attempt to convince the rebels to give up their planned attack against The  Gambia, his boss Numo Kujabi attempted to visit the rebels, but was warned by his colleagues about the dire consequences that await him Kujabi if he should show up at the Jakai camp.  Mr. Kujabi was informed by his intelligence operatives that the rebels were angry about the arrest of its men, and Banjul’s flagrant violation of state sovereignty through cross border drug raid.

Meanwhile, one Sergeant Njie, who led the military team during the raid was quoted as saying that  he and his men executed a command they received from their superiors to help the National Drug Enforcement Agency to effect the arrest of the drug dealers. Mr. Njie said the rebels have alerted the border patrol unit of the Gambia Armed Forces about their planned attack. The army has warned people residing along the border villages to be extra vigilant as they are  negotiating with the Rebels.

The Gambia Armed Forces Command is apparently distancing itself from the NDEA’S mess by invading a Senegalese border village. The rebels said it was lie for Banjul to claim that Siwal was part of The Gambia. They threatened to avenge the kidnapping its men in days to come.

It would be recalled that few days ago, during a joint NDEA, and GAF raid in  Siwall village, six West African Nationals were arrested and paraded before state TV GRTS. But the Jakai rebel faction said the men were part of their group. The rebel faction have vowed to launch what they called hit and run attack against Banjul in days to come. They are calling for the immediate release of their men, and an end to cross border drug raid spearheaded by Gambia’s anti narcotic unit, assisted by the Gambia Armed Forces.