By Buba Gagigo
Hon. Mama Kandeh, Secretary General and Party Leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), has accused Presidential Adviser Saihou Mballow of misleading the Fula community for political gain. Kandeh said the government has no genuine intention to assist the Fulas and urged them not to be used as pawns in political maneuvering.
“I was saddened to see immigration officials meeting with the Fula community to discuss their affairs. This has never happened in our country. They even boasted about senior Fulas in government and the reduction of the alien card fee from D3,700 to D750. I want to tell those who organized this meeting: stop using the Fulas for your own interests. If you truly love the Fulas, stop exploiting them,” Kandeh declared.
He dismissed claims by Mballow that the government is supporting the Fula community, pointing out that harassment of Fulas continues under the very same administration.
“The same officials chasing Fulas are working within this government. If the authorities were sincere, they would have stopped this long ago,” Kandeh argued.
Mballow had recently emphasized that many of the country’s top officials, including the President, Vice President, Secretary General, SIS Director, and senior police officers, are of Fula origin. But Kandeh warned that such rhetoric risks creating unnecessary tension between tribes.
“If we are not careful, this government will turn Fulas against other tribes. They list the Vice President and other top officials as Fulas, but this is only to manipulate us. If they truly cared, they would have changed the law to address the issue of many Gambian-born Fulas being denied citizenship. Let’s open our eyes. They are doing this for their own political interest,” he said.
Kandeh further criticized Fulas in government who, he said, are using their own community for personal benefit.
“The very people oppressing Fulas work under them. If they were serious, they would have stopped it. If they wanted to raise awareness about rights, why didn’t they use radio and television for everyone to hear? None of them is more Fula than me. I am not against Fulas—I am against their exploitation,” Kandeh stressed.
On the reduction of the alien card fee, Kandeh alleged it was an election ploy.
“They knew how much you were paying all along. After the last election, they increased it to D3,700, and now, with elections approaching, they are reducing it. How can they claim the President was not aware? These advisers were in government when the fees were increased in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Why only reduce it now? This is not help—it is deception,” he said.
Kandeh concluded by urging the Fula community not to be misled.
“They only give you a voter’s card so you can vote for them. But that card will not put food on your table or stop the discrimination you face. Don’t be fooled—it’s a lie, they are not helping you,” he warned.