Opinion

Letter From New York: Recognizing Adama Barrow As Gambia’s President

Samsudeen Sarr

(JollofNews)- It is now final that His Excellency Sheikh Professor Doctor Alhagie Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh Babillimansa has decided to step down as president of the Islamic Republic of the Gambia after a special ECOWAS mediation team comprised of the heads of state of Guinea Conakry President Alpha Conde and that of Mauritania President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz met him in Banjul today, January 20, 2016 to discuss the political impasse of the country. Among the team also is the special UN representative for West Africa Mohammed Ibn Chambers.

It is refreshing to know that despite his strong contention and that of his party supporters to challenge the national election results of December 1st 2016, he has in the end, weighing the potentiality of an unnecessary armed conflict in the country, placed the safety of the nation and the Gambian people over the importance or interest of standing his ground for victory.

I am therefore commending him for his courage and determination to step down and allow the Gambian people to start a new political chapter, transitioned in peace and security. I wish to pray for him and his entire family that their life after his presidency will be peaceful, prosperous and generous to them and to everybody who had stood beside him especially in these trying times.

I am however hoping that this is not going to be the end of the APRC party as a political force in the new Gambia led by His Excellency Adama Barrow, where I hope the party will be kept alive and vibrant into future generations.
My support for President Jammeh was unconditional and has of course over the year and eight months I represented his government as a diplomat at the United Nations created me some enemies particularly among folks in opposition to his government. I believe political dissention or loyalty is part of a healthy democratic process that every person should enjoy as an entitlement.

And now that the situation has changed, I expect to be treated as a Gambian who is still entitled to continue enjoying the same rights in the newly established democracy, where I can freely express my opinion. Any restriction of my entitlement to that freedom will contradict the spirit and values envisaged for a better Gambia.

Hence, with this new government, I may sooner or later return to the Gambia and most likely work as a private citizen; and if necessary, contribute my quota, however small, in the political, educational, security or social development of the country.

Yet, I will also seize this moment to apologize to everybody offended in one way or the other by my political views, activities and position while in defense of President Jammeh and the APRC party. I am just a true believer but also an ordinary human being capable of committing mistakes; nonetheless, I hope my apology will be accepted wholeheartedly and not viewed as a sign of weakness or guilt.
After all, it will be absurd for anyone to think that this is the last time I will be heard sharing my political views over global or Gambian issues.

In fact, for continuation, I must say that I am already suspicious of the overzealous part played by the government of Senegal towards the kind of democracy they want us to have in the Gambia. They indeed played a tremendous role in exerting the pressure that helped in changing the dynamics that I am afraid may harbor hidden intentions.

However, now that President Jammeh is gone, I stand to unconditionally recognize and support the leadership and government His Excellency President Adama Barrow and have from this day on shifted my loyalty to him as my president for the remaining period of my contract as a diplomat at the UN that expires in May 2017.

As the president and new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed and Security forces of the Gambia, I wish His Excellency President Adama Barrow, his family members, members of his government and the entire Gambian people a successful and very prosperous tenure in office.

May the Almighty Allah bless the Gambia and her peaceful people.

The author is the Gambia’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations. He was a former Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the Gambia National Army.

21 Comments

  1. Sam Sarr is a traitor. When did you start recognizing Barrow as our new president? You should have done this on the 18th but you waited for your so called “babili mansa” to concede and step aside on the 20th. Jammeh gain the statue of a rebel leader for two days before coming back to his coward sense.

  2. Sam is still delusional to think his contract will run until May. Like his former boss, he is clinging onto power. You’re a political appointee and your contract has expired since the inauguration of Barrow. You don’t need to be told that you should no longer considered yourself as a representative of the new government. As you rightly stated, you’re now a private citizen and you should continue to express your political views.

  3. Sam Stupid Sarr is a chameleon and should resign immediately if he have any credibility left. Your actions, both written and verbal were treacherous and Gambians have found you out for what you are, a shameless traitor. Follow your Bablimansa into exile as Gambians will never forgive you for your intransigence. You used your position as Gambian ambassador to UN to campaign against the wishes of the Gambian people, even threatened to kill to defend Yahya Jammeh and his atrocities. How can you justifiably continue to be in your position of representing the Gambian people. Shame on you Sam and resign immediately and don’t come back to Gambia as you are dis owned by all Gambians, except those who benefited as yourself from the rotten bananas thrown to you by the despot Jammeh.
    Jammeh is no more and he will be haunted till the day he die by all the crimes he committed against the Gambian people.

    • Luntango Suun Gann Gi

      Well said Natty Dread. I have written a fuller reply and I am sure JollofNews will put it up. For now let us join Gambians in celebration and forget this LIER who represented only himself – he didn’t do Jammeh any good either!

  4. Liar, liar pants on fire. Jammeh even called you a liar on national TV, you accepted it and never denied it. Why not go join Jammeh where he’s at. You and Jammeh both threatened to kill your fellow Gambians. It is now that u know every citizen have the right to freely express their opinions without fear or favor??? SAM!!!
    You are a disgrace to Gambia, Gambians and Africa.
    Senegal is a member state of ECOWAS and they unanimously selected Senegal to take the lead in enforcing the will of the people. So to hell with you, to hell with your idiotic views and to hell with Jammeh and APRC.

  5. Mr Sarr understand that Jammeh was a coward that’s why he gave up. He doesn’t wanna die not that he has Gambia’s interest at heart. Secondly you are a foolish opportunist. Thirdly your express of loyalty is not needed. Not many people know u in the country. If Jammeh was not evil people will not have been at the Senegalese boarder.

  6. Samsudeen, Samsudeen, Samsudeen Sarr is a double edged sword whose derivative’s intensity would only pierce his own heart. The New Gambia don’t need one like you. Resign and don’t show your face to this peaceful Nation. You are not sure of your life for now, because divine judgment is going on now. God knows that you don’t have a good mindset for The New Gambia, you are searching for a means of survival for yourself and your family only. Are you in any way thinking that you’re capable of virusing this New Gambia? She is now: Antivirus to nurture her children wisely and healthy. Perhaps, later you’ll be exempted or die. But for now, keep off.

  7. Samsudeen, I wish to state that healthy discourse should entertain dissenting views and respect for divergent opinion as there’s not a single person without an opinion on matters at hand. Granted that one may choose not to express an opinion but you may have heard the adage that there’s nothing like a neutral person!
    However, the reason intelligent analysts follow individuals and political dispensations is to build an informed analysis of the subject of analysis.
    Samsudeen, you have been known the world over as a strident opponent of Yaya Jammeh and what he stood for soon after you relocated to the USA.
    You held that position for quite a while and offered numerous articles and writings to that effect.
    You then, all of s sudden, starting inserting the “Yaya Sabari” connotation in your articles sending a signal to Gambia watchers and readers that something was afoot and that you may be looking to shift your allegiance. Again, you do have every right to shift your allegiance to whoever you choose as a human being. I then said to myself and my spouse that I will be waiting you to land. In other words get to your Locus Standi. You indeed landed albeit with a different color that showed you suddenly throwing all of your weight behind Yaya Jammeh in subscription to the personality cult and myth that was crafted around Yaya Jammeh. Well, the move supposedly did yield dividends but not without harrowing and demeaning tendencies.
    Samsudeen, I will not call you Sam, you claimed to be an effusive writer and a student of African events (not history) touting your book tiltled, Journey to Mali which is really a memoir that would be today’s equivalent of a back way survivor’s book on “A Journey To Italy A Back Way Survivors Account”. Your book was really a recount of a hustler’s life heading to “Tilibo”, as the Malians would say, and didn’t reflect any scholarly research.
    Samsudeen, will you be willing to share your credentials with Gambians? In America, any idiot can now write a book!
    Samsudeen, what myself and an untold number of Gambians take offense to is where folks like yourself, and Yaya Jammeh hold the mistaken belief that you’re masters at crafting propaganda schemes aimed at manipulating Gambians. Yaya may be better at attracting the sweaty crowd because he holds the resources to do just that with hungry and hapless Gambians but you Samsudeen do not have the resources or the mental capacity to do so. What you may be a master at is the art of inserting yourself by design or happenstance into the right spot at the right time and then keep working on your machinations. Samsudeen, your humble Wollof mother and dad, Sarr Wayu, must have told you the Wollof adage that “Kenn Du Naan Chi Ndaal, Jalarrbeku Di Ko Hass”!!
    Well Samsudeen, what I believe is that your actions and what you attest to in your writings represent an insult the intelligence of decent and well meaning Gambians. Samsudeen, you are over 65 years of age and may be past your sell by date. My advice would be to look to retire peacefully in the US and not venture into The Gambia to become a rabble rouser disguised as a political activist or commentator. Yes, you may still love our dear Gambia but looking at your track record, you’d be prone to shooting yourself in the foot and that may spell your demise! I also honestly believe that you do not possess the smarts or the wherewithal to subscribe meaningfully to the new Gambia. Hang up your ugly cloak, look to retire, pray all you want to Yaya jammeh’s Yallah, embrace humility and keep that ego in check for whatever you stood for has gone under the bridge with the water. So Samsudeen look to cut your losses here and now and work harder to add to your family’s blessings while you still have the energy to do so. Living life as a freeloader ain’t easy bro and doesn’t offer any measure of certainty or serves to uphold strong moral values in a family setting. Your kids and grand kids do need you by their side too!
    Cut God out of this as it’s all of your making and only you can correct this unsavory situation. Yaa Ko Togga!
    My two cents Samsudeen.

    • You are right, Brother Andy. This hoodlum and criminal anarchist that continued to shift stand until rewarded with a UN job by the despot Jammeh should not insult the intelligence of Gambians. Am not a Gambian but have witnessed the landscape of moronic despots in Africa that caused mayhem on their citizens to make apartheid chicken feed. Our own so-called leaders colonized its citizens to point of degradation. Why are these bunch of assholes fond of alligning themselves to where their stomach lead them with such impudence and shift positions to fool the citizens? They behave as lawless vandals and left-wing loons who leech onto every selfish cause helping dictators perpetuate themselves in their destabilization streaks. What does this Sarr idiot think? A fool and, rightfully described, a rabble rouser who benefits from a rotten system and turn round to become a social commentator when the odds are stacked against him. Am just riled by this idiotic dunce dancing to where the wind blows him after savoring the ill-gotten crumbs from the bloody table of an intellect-less adventurer who fooled the world into believing that he is a savior and yet look at the list of classy cars and wealth he amassed which could be the envy of an arab king. Again am not Gambian, but I think these morons cast in the mold of Sarr should spare us the ordeal of sermonizing on the rights and wrongs of society because he has no moral pedigree to do so. He is a ass hole!!

  8. Mr. Sarr has the right to go to Gambia and live there if he wish. Just like Jammeh Mr. Sarr only cared about his position. The New Gambia does not need people like him. Mr. Sarr can join Jammeh wherever the hell he ends at and become his maid. How can Mr. Sarr represent a government that he is willing take up arms against. The New Gambia cannot afford to have people like Mr. Sarr representing us and expect a different result.

  9. Please President Barrow, chase out Samsudeen immediately and return back Dr. Tangara. He is a good diplomat and can continue serving greatly Gambia instead he was one of the best collaborator of President Jammeh. I used to work with him at the UN. I am a Senegalese young diplomat and respect him so very highly. The only nonsense element in the Gambian mission in NY is this beast: Samsudeen.
    Let him leave your diplomatic team immediately. Once in Gambia, watch him closely with CDS. They will try to destroy President Barrow power.

    • You don’t know Dr. Tangara, I am the one who know him since years, while he was coming to meet Wade Government. I appreciate him so very much. Hope that President Barrow will benefit from his experience. Reacting from Dakar. Forget about Samsudeen. Our Secret services are following him since years now. All his messages and insult against Senegal are well noted. As Senegal first ennemy, we are waiting for the first occasion to let him know the risk of insulting foreign countries and government. Togn bahoul.
      You claim you are Colonel, then good military, you will meet one day in the rest of your life, your senegalese counterpart for explanation of your people and senegalese nation insult. You are on the Senegalese red list as your former boss President Jammeh. Now he will see what will happen to him in the upcoming years.
      He will face the justice for all his crimes and bad actions.
      regards

  10. I am not sure if Sam’s age is contributing to his stupidity. Just to be clear enough, I do not want anyone to put words into my mouth that I meant old people are stupid…NO, I did not imply that in any ways or forms. Following this fools commentaries, he seems to be leaving in a fool’s paradise all along. In no ways or forms would Sam believed his is contractually obligated to still remain in that office he got assigned less than a month a go by another stupid clone of himself – Jammeh. You can be removed from your political appointment in any minutes the new president and his advisers dim necessary. You might as well start packing and push your resume for a different career. I bet not a diplomatic career. Sounds like Sam needs some mental evaluation.

  11. If i think 0f Sam’s behavior I tend to Question if old age accounts for wisdom..

  12. “In fact, for continuation, I must say that I am already suspicious of the overzealous part played by the government of Senegal towards the kind of democracy they want us to have in the Gambia. They indeed played a tremendous role in exerting the pressure that helped in changing the dynamics that I am afraid may harbor hidden intentions.” Samsudeen dixit. The Gambians are more intelligent than you think, we decide the kind of democracy we want. We rejected stupidity, greed and dictatorship. And we voted for Hope, Freedom and Equality.
    My dear, Africans are doing everything possible to erase the divide between its peoples decided centuries ago in Berlin, so hop on the waggon. Senegal and the Gambia have the same people: we are wolof, Jola, Mandinka, Fula, Bassari, Serere… One Senegambia.

  13. Is this guy for real ? How low can you get? I’m beyond wards. You might as well start packing mate because you’re already out.

  14. Sam just shut your big fucking mouth. For your information Yahya is history and Gambians will pursue justice. We deserve to know how and why Jammeh kill so many of our citizens. You claim to be a diplomat but I think you are just a fool who when your country was in dire need all you wish for was to see it destroy. Today your master is gone with his family and believe me he will never want to talk to you or see your stupid face. You will be recalled tomorrow and like I said before start looking for a job at McDonald. Look at you, this suit you wearing don’t even fit you properly. I am shock that people like can stoop so low and become the biggest fool of all time. You were giving interviews on Aljazeera and other news lying that the elections were not free and fair, you are the biggest liar I have ever seen. Domi haram bounga Don

  15. Eva, Mbucha, Penda Chorro Sarr

    Thank you to ECOWAS. The Gambia situation has set an example to the world that we are capable (with support from outside Africa) of removing authoritarian regimes in Africa.

    On a different note, let’s try and keep our dignity and refrain from vulgar language when expressing our views, despite being angry at Ya Ya and those who followed his lead.

  16. Sam is just a hypocrite, a cheat and a big time opportunist, was he not the first to reveal Jammeh’s atrocities on the online media?people should shun his stupid and selfish articles

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