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SHAKE UP AT GAF
By Malick Mboob
Nov 17, 2004, 07:55

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President Yahya Jammeh yesterday relieved Baboucarr Jatta, chief of staff and Major Momodou Badjie, deputy chief of staff, of their duties and retired them from the army with immediate effect.

In a three paragraph press release from the department of state for Defence, President Jammeh also dismissed Major Momodou Kanteh, the camp commandant, Yundum Barracks, with immediate effect.

The release added that the President at the same time approved the promotion of Major Vincent Jatta, army commander, to the rank of lieutenant colonel and simultaneously appointed him as chief of staff of the Armed Forces.

Major Lang Tombong Tamba is also promoted to the rank of Lt Colonel and appointed as deputy chief of staff, while Lt Commander Assan Sarr, Navy commander, has been appointed to act as the army commander.
Tamba is currently serving under the United Nations mission in Sierra Leone as a military observer.
The new chief of staff, Vincent Jatta was enlisted in the Gambia National Army (GNA) in 1987 and rose in various ranks. He did his infantry officer basic course in the United States from 1989 to 1990.

In 1991, Vincent was sent to Pakistan where he did a young officer course at the School of Infantry and Tactic. In Jaji, Nigeria, Jatta attended four courses from 1997 to 2004 on company commander, junior division staff, senior division staff and armed forces command and staff courses.

Positions held
The new chief of staff has served in different positions within the Gambia Armed Forces. He was platoon commander and instructor at the army training depot in Farafenni. He had also served as the platoon commander 1st Infantry Battalion, Yundum.

Vincent had also served as the officer in charge of Alfa Company in Kudang, commanding officer 2nd Infantry Battalion, Farafenni, grade 2 staff officer, SD and Plans, GAF headquarters.

In 1995, Jatta was reappointed as the commanding officer, 1st Infantry Battalion. Also he was redeployed as staff officer, grade 1, administration and quarterly.
From 1998 to date, Vincent had also served as the commanding officer, Guards Battalion, army SD1 inspectorate, commanding officer, 1sy Infantry Battalion, Yundum, army commander GNA and also served in the peacekeeping operations under Unamsil (Sierra Leone).
Commenting on his appointment last night, Vincent Jatta said: “It is a shock to me, though everybody wants to be elevated and nobody want to be stagnant in one position. In the military, you are bound to take appointments as they come no matter how difficult it may be.

“The President has confident in me, but I am not better than all the rest. I hope my subordinate officers and men will give me all the support to carry out this task. I thank my predecessor for all the support he gave to the GAF.”

© Copyright 2003 by Observer Company

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