By Seedy Jobe
Saikou Mballow, Special Adviser to President Adama Barrow on Political Affairs, has said that discussions leading to the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the National People’s Party (NPP) and the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) did not involve negotiations over government positions.
Speaking in an interview with Bitilo, Mballow dismissed speculation that the alliance was built around the allocation of political appointments, insisting that the focus remained on cooperation between the two parties rather than individual interests.
“Let me tell you. Nowhere in this process, up to the memorandum, were positions being discussed,” Mballow said. “Because Mama made it very clear, I am coming with no demands.”
According to Mballow, Kandeh emphasized that the agreement was an institutional partnership rather than a personal arrangement between political leaders.
‘It’s not me and Adama Barrow. This is NPP and GDC.’ He made it clear that the party does not belong to Adama Barrow or to Mama Kandeh,” Mballow added.
Addressing questions about how Kandeh, once a political rival of President Barrow, became an ally, Mballow argued that political relationships are dynamic and cited examples from The Gambia’s political history to illustrate how alliances can evolve over time.
Reflecting on his own political experience in the United Democratic Party (UDP), Mballow recalled serving as secretary of the party’s youth wing while Lamin Waa Juwara and Single Nyassi were among its prominent youth leaders. He said that following a nationwide political tour, security forces sought to arrest him at his home but did not find him. According to Mballow, Juwara was arrested instead and was allegedly assaulted by security personnel at Denton Bridge, suffering a broken hand because of the group’s political activities.
Mballow noted that despite Juwara’s outspoken criticism of former President Yahya Jammeh during that period, the two later reconciled, and Juwara subsequently served in Jammeh’s administration.
He said the episode demonstrates that political alignments can change over time and urged politicians and their supporters to treat one another with respect, regardless of current political differences.
“This is a lesson for every Gambian, including those of us in political parties and our supporters,” Mballow said. “We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. Let us respect one another and avoid deceiving each other, because politics can change. It is a lesson for everyone.”
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