An opposition leader in the Gambia is leading calls for the government of President Adama Barrow to provide answers on why unarmed protesters were Monday shot dead by police in Faraba Banta.
Mamma Kandeh, leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress party (GDC), said the Gambian people want Mr Barrow to show leadership and provide them with reassurance regarding the poor security situation in the country.
“Barrow should be more action-oriented rather than giving promises he cannot fulfill. The police opened fire on the people of Faraba Banta and now they are pointing fingers to each other as to who gave the order for them to shoot,” Mr Kandeh told journalists.
“The president should take the necessary steps to give Gambians the answers they are waiting for. We are in a democratic Gambia and the government should bring the perpetrators of the Faraba Banta incident to book.”
Mr Kandeh added: “President Adama Barrow has always been campaigning that he has a strong team behind him. Where is that team? Let him dissolve the current team and come up with another team if they are not capable.”
The GDC leader said the Faraba Banta incident could have been avoided if the Barrow administration had taken the necessary steps to resolve the dispute which was simmering for several weeks.
He added: “When issues come up, the government should take the necessary steps to solve them rather than wait for the situation to get out of hand. The Inspector General of Police said he did not order the use of live ammunition on the protesters. If that is really the case, then who gave the officers the guns and bullets that were used against the innocent protesters?”
