Former Gambian Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang
By Buba Gagigo
Former Gambian Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang has, for the first time, publicly spoken about the circumstances surrounding her removal from office, describing it as a politically motivated decision intended to make way for the appointment of Lawyer Ousainou Darboe.
Speaking on West Coast Radio, Tambajang recounted that President Adama Barrow expressed displeasure over a letter she signed in her capacity as acting president while he was on an official mission in Mauritania. She explained that the letter in question was a formal endorsement of the then–University of The Gambia Vice Chancellor, Dr. Herbert Robinson, in support of his candidacy for a position at the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
According to Tambajang, she was entrusted with full administrative authority during the president’s absence. “He (President Barrow) gave me all administrative responsibilities, coordination of the entire government business. Of course, administration includes responding to letters, correspondence, and so forth. When the letter came, Abdoulie Jarra was then the PS. I dictated the letter to him. To sign up, I signed as acting president on behalf of His Excellency,” she recalled.
Tambajang said she sought procedural clearance before signing the letter. She instructed the Permanent Secretary to verify its propriety with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“I asked Abdoulie whether it was in order; he said it was in order. I asked him to take it to the Ministry of External Affairs and ask them whether it is in order or not, and bring back the letter to sign,” she said.
She recounted that Abdoulie later returned and informed her that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed everything was in order. She explained that the letter originated from the Ministry of External Affairs and was subsequently forwarded to The Gambia’s mission at the United Nations in New York.
“Momodou Tangara was the permanent representative in New York. When the letter got to him, he sent the letter to the presidency and said that I signed as acting president. The president called me; he told me they said you signed a letter as acting president. He said he found out that it is unconstitutional and undiplomatic,” she explained.
She admitted that, initially, she could not remember the specific letter, prompting her to ask the president for time to review the records.
“I looked at the records and found out that was the letter. I brought the letter to him and told him that it was within the mandate he gave me. He said it was unconstitutional. I told him that was what they convinced him to believe, but there is nothing wrong with it. I told him if he considers what people were telling him, then I am sorry about it. It is not because I did wrong, but I am sorry about it because at the end of the day, you are my principal and you are the president,” she said.
Tambajang noted that although Barrow told her he had forgiven her, his subsequent behavior suggested otherwise. “I asked him whether he had forgiven me; he said yes. But I realized after that he gave me the cold shoulder. I decided to send Honorable Habib Drammeh to him to talk to him about it and ask for forgiveness, which he (Habib) did. I again sent honorable Bai Lamin Jobe for the same thing. So, this was not an issue; I think it was political. That’s my conviction. Removing me was purely political in order to bring Ousainou Darboe,” she said.