The West African troops deployed to the African country of Gambia when the electoral future looked bleak and the citizens fate, unknown, last month to help President Adama Barrow take power will be cut to 500 from 7,000 this month.
According to Ceoafrica, a statement from Mr Barrow's office read on state television said the gradual scaling down would begin no later than 19th of February.
The troops intervened when long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh refused to leave power after losing elections in December and Regional leaders had to threaten to remove him by force to end to the crisis.
The former president agreed to go into exile in Equatorial Guinea only after troops entered the small West African country, in which the 500-strong force left behind will have a three-month mandate to protect President Barrow and other government members.
Sections of Gambia’s security services were under Yahya Jammeh's personal control and President Adama Barrow has announced that the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the notorious secret police which had “instilled fear amongst citizens”, would be reformed.
President Barrow said that the NIA’s name would change and functions would be limited to "intelligence gathering, analysis and advice to the relevant arms of government responsible for internal and external security".
