By Makutu Manneh
Former Vice President Dr. Isatou Touray, now an independent candidate in The Gambia’s December presidential election, has denied ever saying that opposing President Adama Barrow amounts to opposing God, arguing that her earlier remarks have been taken out of context and misrepresented.
Speaking in an interview with Kerr Fatou on Thursday, Dr. Touray said public discussion of the statement has overlooked the circumstances in which it was made.
“If I said it, are they looking at the context? In what context did I say it? And what was the sentence or the phrase that I said that has resulted in that?” she said.
Dr. Touray maintained that her remarks were intended to encourage national unity during a fragile period in the country’s transition following the end of authoritarian rule, not to suggest that political opposition to Mr. Barrow was equivalent to opposing God.
“The context in which I spoke was very clear,” she said. “I believed that he was there and that we should respect him, recognize him, and that it was a time for us to move together to move the country forward. That was why I said that. I never said opposing President Barrow means opposing God.”
She said her position reflected the political realities of the time, when The Gambia was emerging from dictatorship, and many citizens had lost confidence in the country’s leadership.
Describing herself as a Muslim who believes in one God, Dr. Touray said the country then required unity behind its leadership to preserve peace, stability, and national progress.
She also defended her role in supporting Mr. Barrow’s ascent to power, saying she devoted significant time, effort, and experience to his administration because she believed it represented a new beginning for the country.
“I supported him more than anybody else,” she said, adding that she offered “all my talent, time, and encouragement” in the interest of peace and democratic transition.
Asked whether she would make the same statement in 2026, Dr. Touray gave a direct response.
“I cannot say that,” she said.
Dr. Touray argued that her decision to challenge Mr. Barrow as an independent candidate is consistent with her earlier support for his presidency, saying political backing should depend on whether a leader remains faithful to the principles on which that support was originally given.
“At a particular point in time, you can support your leader based on the fundamentals the leader was supported for,” she said. “When you see the person derailing, and you find that they are not going along the road, it is incumbent upon you to come out frankly and say this is not right.”
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