The Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General Simon Ndour, presided over the official ceremony for the handover of the national flag to the fifth Senegalese detachment engaged in the Mission to Support the Stabilization of Guinea-Bissau.

Composed of 153 military personnel, this contingent includes a headquarters, three motorized sections and a support section.

This new rotation illustrates, according to the military high command, the confidence placed in Senegal by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Guinea-Bissau authorities in the context of stabilization operations.

According to General Ndour, since the deployment of Senegalese forces to Guinea-Bissau in 2022, no major hostile attacks have been recorded against Senegalese soldiers. He attributes this to the professionalism and exemplary conduct of previous contingents.

He also recalled that this mission is of strategic importance for Senegal, as the stability of Guinea-Bissau has direct repercussions on Senegalese national security, particularly in the southern regions.

General Ndour addressed the security context, marked by decades of political tensions and attempted coups in this neighboring country. He specifically mentioned the failed coup of February 1, 2022, and the coup of November 26, 2025, which occurred during an election period, demonstrating, in his view, the persistent fragility of the security situation.

Faced with this instability, the ECOWAS mission aims to protect republican institutions, secure populations and support the political process leading to the presidential election scheduled for December 2026.

The Senegalese contingent will notably have the mission of conducting joint patrols inside and outside the city of Bissau in order to strengthen the climate of trust, peace and security.

Addressing the officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted personnel, General Simon Ndour emphasized the values of discipline, selflessness, courage, and professionalism. He reminded them that by receiving the national flag, they become ambassadors for Senegal and for sub-regional stability.

He finally urged the soldiers to continue the efforts of previous contingents in order to consolidate the gains of this mission deemed essential by the highest Senegalese authorities for the stability of the community space and the internal security of Senegal.