Dismissed officials have resurfaced in the Gambia government’s latest reshuffle while other government officials have been yanked in fresh removals.
Former Gambia Maritime Administration boss Karamo Janneh has now found a new direction after been appointed Deputy Head of Mission in Sierra Leone.
Another high-profile dismissal in the reshuffle is that of Momodou Ceesay at the GPPC. Ceesay, who was serving as Head of Mission, has been redeployed and dismissed. The government moved quickly to appoint Wura Bah as Acting Managing Director, signalling an abrupt end to Ceesay’s tenure and a reset at one of the country’s most strategic public enterprises.
The shake-up also swept through the diplomatic service. Noah Touray has been recalled as Ambassador to Spain, effectively ending his tour of duty. While official reasons for recalls are rarely made public, such moves often reflect dissatisfaction or policy shifts at the highest level.
Other officials have been removed from overseas postings and brought back to Banjul. Mrs Fatim Njie was recalled from her position as Deputy Head of Mission in Paris and reassigned as Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mrs. Njie is wife to erstwhile Finance Minister and current Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mambury Njie. Habib Jarra was also recalled from Saudi Arabia, where he served as Deputy Head of Mission, and appointed Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Vice President.
Taken together, the dismissals, recalls and reappointments paint a troubling picture. On one hand, officials are removed from office, sometimes amid public expectations of reform. On the other, some of the same figures resurface in new senior roles, often without explanation.
The return of Karamo Janneh, in particular, has intensified public debate. Critics argue that recycling dismissed officials undermines confidence in governance reforms and sends the wrong signal to career civil servants. Supporters, however, may view the moves as pragmatic redeployments.
What is clear is that this reshuffle is not just routine housekeeping. It has reopened old questions about merit, consequences and whether dismissal from public office in The Gambia truly marks the end of the road, or merely a pause before the next appointment.
