News, Politics

Gambia: Lawyer Darboe Denies Being In Control Of President Barrow

Lawyer Ousainou Darboe

(JollofNews) – The secretary-general of the Gambia’s United Democratic Party (UDP) has rubbished reports that he is controlling and influencing the decisions of President Adama Barrow.

Lawyer Ousainou Darboe said such reports are nothing but a figment of people’s imaginations.

“I’ve never in any way dictated anything to President Adama Barrow,” he said.

Mr Darboe was last year elected head of the UDP at the party’s congress in Basse. However, a few months later, he was arrested and jailed by the former Gambian regime of Yahya Jammeh after he led a street protest to demand answers over the death in custody of the party’s organising secretary, Ebrima Solo Sandeng.

Mr Sandeng had led a protest which ended with Gambian security forces beating and arresting dozens for making a public call for electoral reform and the resignation of President Yahya Jammeh.

While in prison, his party was forced in the run up to the general election to elect Adama Barrow as its new leader.

And in another twist of fate, Mr Barrow was elected head of an opposition coalition, which defeated President Yahya Jammeh in the December 2016 election. His election victory led to the release of all political prisoners from prison including Mr Darboe.

Mr Darboe was later named Foreign minister in Mr Barrow’s  government.

He said the new regime is focused on righting the wrongs of the Jammeh regime and described President Barrow’s 100-days in office as  very successful.

“We are not doing things just appeasingly,” he told the BBC’s Focus On Africa Programme. “I think people are really eager but we have to be a little bit patient. The state of our coffers at the time when we assumed power was virtually empty.”

Commenting on the shortage of heavy-duty fuel in the country, Mr Darboe said the government is working to address the situation. He however warned that the government will not rely on unscrupulous people to import heavy-duty fuel into the country at the expense of the Gambians.

17 Comments

  1. Why is my gut telling me that Darboe is speaking with a bifurcated tongue in typical attorney speak?
    Mr Darboe certainly holds and manipulates certain strings as he represents what in Manding is called KANG DAA in the Barrow UDP government!!

  2. Myself; I feel for Mr Darboe. He has struggled. So many times he was humiliated by Jammeh and others. It is sad that he has to make this statement.

    But the people need change with no excuses;

  3. I feel for all Gambia and wish all well for my friends, see u soon, Scorpion king

  4. Will it not be naive for anybody to expect Darboe to confess his influence on Barrow. As long as Darboe is in the current government, he will continue to overshadow the president.

    • This is why party leaders, especially Darboe, the boss of Barrow at party level, shouldn’t have served in Barrow’s Cabinet.
      They should have opted for the National Assembly to supervise and guide the reform process, or just concentrate on preparing their parties for the next elections.

  5. Bax,is that not what Halifa Sallah did? But people still slam for not accepting a cabinet post in Barrow’s government for fear of being criticized.

  6. Bax: You are exactly right;

  7. Poor Gambia,,Poor Gambia, a country with two presidents and a country in a ship without destination 100 days and more than 200 millions of dalasi of hotel bill, no electricity no water supplies .

    • and millions or even billions of stolen assets which is nowhere wanted to be found or reclaimed…
      what about Potomac mansion, or the the Gambia Goverment Bird and the Military Fighter Jet, the stolen ocean front propertys, the luxury cars Rolls Royce, Hummer just to Name a few… the foreign Bank acounts in Swiss and Panama, and so on and on.. and least but not last Kanilai Villas and Brufut Mega Hotel… Take back your Country and all what was stolen and Claim what is rightfully your own to build up Gambia our foreparents sweat for and the youths are dreaming of.. make nobody devide us and fool you again…

  8. People vote for Barrow not Darboe anyway Darboe Is doing great favour to Mr Kandeh Mammah Kandeh can win next presidential election

    • Sound like the same opinion poll conducted by one Gaye, that gave Mama Kandeh’s party and the independents a majority in the new NA. Well reality came down bitterly on mama Kandeh. Well you are bringing in the same opinion poll …I look for solace in the fact that elections are 5 years ahead.

  9. Darboe will never agree to that,but no none need to study rocket science to know who is pulling the strings,but let him know that people voted not for him but for Adama Barrow.

  10. Bablilimansa will soon come for them and they would regret why they were born in the first place

    • abidjeh… wait until you enjoy the Service of the five.star Hotel.. u will enjoy it when your friend will drop you there when him dont like your song of praysing again… anyway no disrespect…

  11. So the President needs tutelage, Good! Who cares. Perhaps if that murdering Neanderthal Yahya Jammeh had a tutor pulling the strings, the narrative would be different. So long as we see good result Sir you do not hold any online agitators an explanation.

  12. In the jungle the mighty jungle; The Lion sleeps at night; a whim a wah a whim a wah !!!

  13. Mr Ley;

    A message for balbilo mince meat;

    There’s no regrets/
    We don’t want you back/
    No need to call/
    We would only cry again/
    Say goodbye again?

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