On Thursday, 3 January 2013, 98 Gambian soldiers returned home from Darfur in Sudan. Gamcoy 14 left for Darfur in July 2012 for a peace keeping mission.

Major General Seckan said the two most important things for soldiers to bear in mind when they land in Darfur are the value of peace and development.

Readers would agree with the Army PRO that the country has always been making contributions in similar peace keeping missions for many years now in troubles zones such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, East Timor etc.

The Gambia is not a war zone but the way Imam Baba Leigh was abducted and taken into custody without access to family members and legal practitioners is reminiscent of troubled zones where there is no rule of law.

A country that sends its soldiers and police personnel on peace keeping Missions should strive to be an example for promoting good governance, observing the rule of law, maintaining peace and enhancing development.

We therefore hope that the State recognizes the contradiction and strive to uphold and defend the rule of law without fear or favour, affection or ill will.

We should practice what we preach.