The Caliph General of Sifo, Imam Abdoulie Kanteh, has called on political leaders, public figures and citizens to put the national interest above personal ambitions, warning that selfish interests and political confrontation could undermine peace and stability in The Gambia.
Imam Kanteh made the remarks on Wednesday following a high-level delegation meeting with President Adama Barrow at the State House in Banjul, where he spoke on behalf of the religious leaders who attended the engagement.
The prominent Islamic scholar urged political actors to approach their responsibilities with sincerity and ensure that their actions are guided by the interests of the country rather than personal or political considerations.
“My message to them is that they should be sincere,” Imam Kanteh said. “Every one of them, his role and his intentions should be the peace of this country, not self-interest.”
He said Gambians should be united by the common objective of developing the country, arguing that political disagreements should not degenerate into confrontation.
“We are all trying to bring development to this country, and no one needs to quarrel or fight,” he added.
Imam Kanteh warned that when political leaders place personal interests ahead of national cohesion, the consequences can extend beyond political competition and threaten social stability.
“If we continue fighting, this will not bring good changes; this will only bring division,” he cautioned.
He also pointed to political crises elsewhere in Africa as a warning, particularly situations where disputed or contentious elections have contributed to violence and social unrest.
“In other countries in Africa, when elections go wrong, you see what happens there is fitnah (strife). We do not want that in this country,” he said.
With The Gambia approaching the 2026 presidential election, Imam Kanteh stressed the responsibility of religious leaders to help maintain calm and encourage peaceful political engagement.
He noted that the imams who attended the meeting have large followings across the country and therefore have an important role to play in promoting reconciliation, sincerity and peaceful coexistence.
According to the Caliph General, religious leaders will use their mimbar, or pulpits, to preach messages of peace, unity and national responsibility to their congregations.
“We will preach sincerity, reconciliation and peace,” his remarks indicated, underscoring the role of the religious community in helping prevent political tensions from spilling into wider society.
However, Imam Kanteh also spoke positively about President Barrow’s development record and expressed support for the continuation of ongoing national projects.
“The President of the Republic of The Gambia has done a lot,” he said.
In making the point, the Sifo Caliph General invoked a French football saying: “Une équipe qui gagne, on ne la change pas” — meaning, you do not change a winning team.
“If your football team is winning always, why change it?” he asked.
Imam Kanteh concluded by stressing that the responsibility for Gambia’s progress does not rest solely with the government or political class, but with all Gambians.
He urged citizens and leaders alike to work truthfully for the country’s advancement and to resist personal interests that could divide the nation.
