By Staff Writer
Sergeant Modou Saine, former personal assistant to the Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Mamat O. Cham, has leveled serious allegations of corruption and misconduct against his former superior.
In an interview with Kerr Fatou, Sgt. Saine claimed that he once shared a close working relationship with Lt. Gen. Cham, during which he handled a wide range of personal and official errands for the defence chief. However, the relationship later deteriorated, prompting Saine to come forward with accusations he describes as evidence of unethical and potentially criminal conduct.
Central to Saine’s claims are allegations involving boats seized by the Gambia Navy, many of which are believed to have been used in irregular migrant transport operations. According to Saine, once such vessels are confiscated and slated for public auction, Lt. Gen. Cham allegedly intervenes to set artificially low reserve prices.
Saine further alleges that the CDS would then arrange to acquire the boats himself by paying only a fraction of the agreed price, with promises to settle the remaining balance at a later date—commitments that, he claims, were never fulfilled.
He further alleged that the vessels are repaired, repainted, and subsequently registered under the CDS’s name with the Gambia Maritime Administration. According to Saine, the boats are then deployed for private commercial fishing operations.
Saine contends that this practice contravenes Section 5.3 of the Gambia Armed Forces Code of Conduct, which prohibits serving military personnel from engaging in private business activities that conflict with the interests of the Republic of The Gambia. The provision states: “An Other Rank shall not engage in any private business or professional activity, nor shall he/she have any direct or indirect financial interest that would place him/her in a position of conflict between personal interests and the interests of the Republic of The Gambia, particularly in relation to his/her duties and responsibilities as military personnel.”
Kerr Fatou has received and reviewed screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation purportedly between Sgt. Saine and a contact saved as “CDS,” in which images of boats and engines were exchanged. While we cannot independently verify that the number belongs to Lt. Gen. Cham, the messages appear to reference the collection and coordination of boat-related items.
In one exchange, Saine wrote, “Good morning, sir, engine collected from home, and boat collected from navy and some boat items. The CO Navy really tried and supported the process, sir, for your update, sir.” The recipient, identified in the contact as “CDS,” responded, “Excellent, thanks for the coordination.”
Sergeant Saine also submitted photographic and video evidence of a fishing vessel bearing the name “Aji Amie Secka Cham.” In addition, he provided copies of registration receipts from the Gambia Maritime Administration for two vessels—Aji Amie Secka Cham 1 and Aji Amie Secka Cham 2—listing Mamat O.A. Cham as both the payee for the registration forms and the licensed owner. Kerr Fatou has not been able to independently verify whether these vessels were among assets seized from migrant transport operations.
The allegations have not yet been publicly addressed by Lt. Gen. Cham or the Gambia Armed Forces. If substantiated, they could raise serious concerns about procurement integrity, asset disposal processes, and oversight within the country’s military establishment.
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