The nomination of new members and replacement of existing ones to the Armed Forces Council was approved by the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The motion, made by Hon. Sering Modou Njie, Minister of Defense, called for the removal of a few Armed Forces Council members.

Minister Njie announced to the assembly that Dr. Cherno Omar Barry would succeed Yusupha B. Dibba, and retired Lieutenant Colonel Abdoulie Conteh would be replaced by retired Rear Admiral Sarjo Fofana.

“Respected orator, I moved to table a motion to replace two Armed Forces Council members who are currently outside of The Gambia’s territorial authority. Mr. Yuspha B. Dibba and retired Lieutenant Colonel Abdoulie Conteh. Permit me to call your attention, Hon. Speaker, to Section 189(1) of the 1997 Constitution. The Vice President, the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Defense Staff, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, the Commanders of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defense, and two additional individuals to be nominated by the President and confirmed by the National Assembly will all be members of the Armed Forces Council, he declared.

According to Minister Njie, the President has given the go-ahead to replace these Council members in accordance with the 1997 Constitution.

Members acknowledged the impressive record of the newly appointed members in The Gambia and supported the resolution throughout the debate.

Nonetheless, a few participants voiced reservations regarding Dr. Cherno Barry’s eligibility for the Armed Forces Council position, speculating that he may be more useful in a different capacity and raising doubts about his expertise with military matters.