Ramatoulie D. K. Sanneh Explained

Ramatoulie D. K. Sanneh
Allegiance:Gambia
Branch:Gambia National Army
Serviceyears:2006–present
Rank:Brigadier-General

Brigadier-General Ramatoulie D. K. Sanneh MRG is an officer of the Gambia National Army. She joined as an enlisted member before being commissioned as a captain in May 2006. Sanneh was appointed a Member of the National Order of the Republic of The Gambia in 2010 and was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general in May 2011. She became Gambia's first female army general and has since worked to reduce gender-based violence in the country.

Biography

Ramatoulie D. K. Sanneh enlisted in the Gambia National Army. She was promoted from the non-commissioned officer rank of corporal to the commissioned officer rank of captain in May 2006.[1] In April 2008 she was promoted to the rank of major by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh.[2] On 7 January 2010 she was appointed to become a Member of the National Order of the Republic of The Gambia (MRG) by President Jammeh; at this time she held the rank of colonel.[3]

In May 2011 Sanneh was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, becoming Gambia's first female army general.[4] The promotion was hailed in the local press as a milestone in the history of the Gambian Army and a step towards empowerment of women. Sanneh was said to have "proven her commitment and dedication to duty and has served her institution with a high sense of respect, loyalty and discipline".[5]

Sanneh has since led campaigns against gender-based violence in Gambia in her role as Chief Adviser to the Gender Focal Officer in the Gambian Army.[6] She committed the Gambian Armed Forces to work with the Network Against Gender Based Violence and noted that the army had set up gender offices in its barracks to provide expertise on the issue.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Manneh . Chief Ebrima B . Gambia: 46 Officers, Others Promoted . 28 September 2019 . Daily Observer (Banjul) . AllAfrica . 26 May 2006.
  2. News: President decorates 27 officers . 28 September 2019 . Africa.gm . 18 April 2008.
  3. News: National Award recipients approved . https://web.archive.org/web/20150104095532/http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/national-award-recipients-approved . dead . 4 January 2015 . 28 September 2019 . Daily Observer (Gambia) . 7 January 2010.
  4. News: Fadera . Hatab . Gambia: Nation's First Female Army General Decorated . 28 September 2019 . Daily Observer (Banjul) . All Africa . 12 May 2011.
  5. News: Gambia: Women Empowerment . 28 September 2019 . Daily Observer (Banjul) . 13 May 2011.
  6. News: Brigadier General Ramatoulie D.K. Sanneh of the Gambia Armed Forces shares her #iBelieve message for 16 Days of Activism against GBV . 28 September 2019 . United National Population Fund Gambia . 1 December 2018 . en.
  7. News: Jadama . Rohey . GAF Officers, Wives Sensitised On GBV . 28 September 2019 . Foroyaa Newspaper . 1 February 2018.