The mandate of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) military operation in The Gambia has been extended once again.

“The Authority had decided to extend the mandate of the Ecowas Mission in The Gambia (Ecomig) for one year and instructs the mission to continue to support The Gambia in the implementation of the White Paper of the Truth Commission and needed Defense and Security Sector Reforms,” the Authority of Heads of State and Government said in a communique on Sunday during its 64th Ordinary Session in Abuja.
In addition, the government and interested parties were asked by the 15-nation council to “expedite the adoption of a new constitution, ahead of the 2026 general elections.”

The mission, also known as “Operation Restore Democracy,” was first sent to The Gambia in January 2017 with the goal of forcing outgoing president Yahya Jammeh to cede power to Adama Barrow, who was elected. The mission’s troops are mostly from Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria, three neighboring countries. But after many years of residence, poll after poll has shown that most Gambians want Ecomig’s mission to terminate and the country’s security to remain under the control of the Gambian defense and security services.