News, Politics

Gambia Appoints New Police Chief

IGP Landing Kinteh

(JollofNews) – Landing Kinteh has been appointed as The Gambia’s new Inspector General of Police, a police spokesman confirmed to APA on Thursday.

Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Foday Conta said Kinteh is taking over from Jammeh-era IGP Yankuba Sonko with immediate effect although he would only report to work after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Former police commissioner at the Police Training School, Mamour Jobe has been appointed as Kinteh’s deputy.

Until his appointment as IGP, Landing Kinteh has been serving at the African Union and United Nations hybrid peacekeeping mission in the restive Sudanese region of Darfur.

He had reportedly abandoned his UN contract in Sudan to return and work in The Gambia.

IGP Kinteh who has a Master’s degree in Law from the Dan Fodio University in Nigeria had served as police prosecutor in Gambia for several years.

Sonko joined The Gambia Police Force in 1982 and was promoted to the rank of Corporal in 1984, and to Cadet Officer in 1988.

He studied at the Nigerian Police Training School in 1990, and, upon his return in 1991, helped form the Police Intervention Unit (PIU).

Source: APA

16 Comments

  1. Clearance !! Finish with Jollas Same errors that Jammehs fingertip appointment is Jollas and now turn for mandikas, where is the good governance, and why copy Jammeh? 95% of heads are mandikas and with a government of tue coalition what will happen with UDP government ?? This government can end with udp as people start to seeing tribalism !!!

    • =Peace, Is he a Jola? According to Mr Sanneh he is not that’s why he was allowed to keep his job while some of the Jolas were prosecuted or sacked for their alleged role in the previous administration. Hope you do your research before commenting cos I have immediate family members who have Sonko names but don’t see themselves as Jolas. One tribe one Gambia I say.

      • Commendable sentiment and or statement. Let’s therefore, as Gambians, Collectively urge nodge the UDP Led Government to implement the Sentiment and or Statements. Reality in this case, demonstrated and continue to demonstrate otherwise. During Jammeh’s APRC Regime, People made Similar Excuses and Rationalizations for all kinds and types of Excesses and Citizens’ Rights Supression and Violations. If “Gambia Has Decided” is be Meaningful, the Fruits of that “Decision”, must be Shared with all Gambians. As a Matter of Principle, I am not one to Buy or Swallow wholeheartedly, Government, any Government which is willing to Label a Segment of its Citizens as “Rebels”. Such a declaration or Lebel ought to be Reserved for an individual or group who took up Arms and Declared War Against a Country or State. It should Not be thrown or Dished out and about like Charity. It is Unwise and can lead to a Self-imposed Prophecy. I am not saying that the Boarder Community of Gambia and Cassamance does not have Cassamance citizens. Of course, they have and have always been that way on both sides of the Boader. With ECOWAS Communiques, Agreements and Treaties, it would be wise for the Gambian and Senegalese Authorities Tread ever so Delibrately and Diplomatically Not to run afoul of the ECOWAS, and even AU and UN MANDATES Governing Free Movements of People, especially, those who are Dislodged, Dislocated and as a result move or run from Persecution of any kind. My fear is, our Beloveth Gambia’s Foni Area may as an Unintended consequence due to Reckless Short Term Political gain, turn Foni into a BIAFRA. I see a BIAFRA-NIZING of Foni and that would be Catastrophic to the Gambia as a whole. Gambia is too small, too inter-related, and too poor to be in a position to Sustain a Permanent Marginalized Region and Ethnic Group in a Perpetual State of Civil Disturbance. I can safely venture to say that no Gambian wants to Witness such an Outcome. Yet, some of the very Uninformed and Kneejerk Reactionary Statements and Actions coming from some Ministries and Ministers are Paradoxically Creating the Atmosphere Conducive Pushing the Gambia Toward the Abyss of Permanent Conflict. For example, reports of Curfews from 10:00 PM to Dawn, of Harassment of Kanilai Gambian Citizens by ECOMIG “OCCUPATION FORCES”, PUNISHMENT OF ANYONE INCLUDING THE WOMEN, THE ELDERLY AND CHILDREN BY MAKING THEM PERFORM “MONEY DANCE” AND ANYTHING THE SOLDIER WITH THE GUN DESIRES TO LEVEL ON THE GAMBIAN CITIZEN OF Kanilai. Reports of ECOMIG FORCES OR AS THE KANILAI RESIDENTS PERCEIVE THEM, “OCCUPATION FORCES”, KILLING OF THE LIVESTOCK, CATTLE, GOATS AND SHEEP BELONGING TO THE PEOPLE OF KANILAI. This must be brought to an abrupt end. One Village, no matter what Prejudice one may harbour against it, Should Not be Forced to Shoulder or Carry the Burden of Feeding the Senegalese and Ghanian Soldiers of the ECOMIG FORCES. The Kanilai Wound cannot be Bandaged Without an Appropriate and Honest Examination of the Underlying Reasons and Reactionary Statements and Actions Levelled and being Levelled at its Gambian Citizens whoes Crime is Guilt by Association, to Wit, former President Yaya Jammeh. Gambia and Gambians must purge the Ghost of the past inorder to live in the Present in a State of Peaceful Co-exitence. As it was in the Beginning, So Shall it Be in the End. Innocence lost in the Gambia. We must regain it back. We owe it to the future generations of all Ethnic Groups of the Gambia. No Gambian is a “Rebel”. At least Not yet…

    • =Peace#,
      Copying Jammeh is definitely good soup to your taste because you are his typical carbon copy. Your types are the most unintelligent breeds among Gambians. I think a donkey out there somewhere in the Gambia serves a much worthy purpose than your dumb*** ass writings. Wonder why Mike never put you on his scales…Hope you continue jabbing the air with your hind legs.

  2. #PEACE, Is Landing Kinteh mandinka? and where is the correlation that because he is mandinka, inherently he is a UDP member too?

    • Yes and yes he is !!!And you know that

      • Despite the surname, do you consider that he, by virtue of being born and raised in another ethnic settlement, maybe no more a Mandinka but in name only? Do you consider that biologically he may be an ethnically-mixed person just like president Barrow? Are you aware that surnames in the Gambia, if you consider the likes of Cham, Sanneh, Jammeh, Sarr, Njie, Jobe, Mass, Bojang, Sanyang etc, do not clear-cut based on ethnic group belong? Hence you would realize that you have Mandinka Njies as well as Wolof Tourays. Then you would realize essentially that surnames do not explain someone’s thinking or mindset. That a Kinteh, like me, do grew up in predominantly non-Mandinka settlements all his adolescent years. That such people have more in common with the ethnic-linguistic people they grew up with than with ethnic-linguistic people their surnames might imply.

  3. Sulayman Ceesay

    I am fully aware that in our new Gambia, somehow, last names tend to evoke tribal sentiments. And it is alright for people to feel and express views on such matters. Yes, it is true that the Government should be more sensitive to such feelings and bring about balance as may be reasonably possible. It is also true that the Government should avoid, as far as possible, creating the impression that it is behaving exactly the same way as Jammeh by concentrating power in key positions to a specific ethnic/tribal group. Our country is too small and very much in need of healing, and positive development especially for the downtrodden citizens, to create impressions that will contribute in holding us back as a nation. My hope is that the Government will listen and be sensitive. Having said that, however, I am a firm believer that only qualified, competent and conscientious persons should be appointed to positions of leadership. Leadership positions are not to be experimented upon; those who want such experiment should start at the bottom and rise up, for only then will they become of some value to positively lead. Irrespective of his ethnic/tribal origin, the new IGP Kinteh seems to be eminently qualified for the position. And, because of his legal training, coupled with his policing experience, we will expect better of him in ridding the Police Force of corrupt elements who feel that it is a right to extort money from the public – whether on the roads or otherwise – in order to supplement their income. We should support him, but at the same time hold him to account. I am less impressed with his deputy who I am personally aware had behaved corruptly in the past, especially in colluding with corrupt Alkalos with regard to land disputes. But I will not hang him on that, in the hope that he has reformed or will reform in order to serve with integrity. No one is perfect, but we must all learn from the past.

    • My Thoughts inform me that too many analysis that at Face Value may seem Objective and Balanced, have built in Intentional or Unintentional Subliminal Messages that must be Called out whenever it raises its “Ugly Head”. Ceesay’s statement that “IGP Kinteh seems eminently qualified for the position… because of his legal training Coupled with his police experience”…,but that, “I am less impressed with his deputy who I have personally aware had behaved corruptly in the past especially in colluding with Corrupt Alkalos with regard to land disputes”…These types of Narratives are part of the reason why a Significant number of Gambians have a feeling that there is an inherited Pernicious and Cancerous Disease in the Gambian Politics and Society that Need to be Collectively and Transparently Surgically Removed. That Pernicious and Deadly Enterprise is Ethnocentrism Wrapped up in Marginalization and Purgings of Perceived Political and Ethnic Group Enemies. My Thoughts therefore, are conditioned by experience and training to read in between the lines as well as decipher Subliminal Messages that “Snake oil” sales men and women sprinkle all over their words with a doze of Self-Rightousness, and Platitudes of Self-ascribed Exceptionalism. I am not in a position to pass judgement on S. Ceesay. However, I am in a position to ask questions such as, would he be kind enough to provide the Gambians evidence of the corruption he alleged the Deputy IGP M. Jobe, as compared to IGP Kinteh he Delights himself in Pouring all the Praise he can Muster. This is what I am here after Calling, “Smear, Label, and Destroy by Character Assssination, any Perceived Opponent of UDP or Mandinkas. In their mind, any Critic of the UDP Political Leaders or a Mandinka, is an Enemy that must be Destroyed and Disposed off, this is taken up as a Matter of Existential Reality. This is Dangerous and Deadly. It is this kind of Mentality and Thought Process that is in part Responsible for the Deadly Shooting and killing of one and critical wounding of several Peaceful Demonstrators or Protesters (who are Predominantly of the Jola of Foni), at Kanilai, the birth place of former President Yaya Jammeh. It is conversely in part why the “Rioters” at Farato and Baffoloto Villages who destroyed Public and Private Property by burning them were not Violently Confronted nor Shot to Death, while those in Kanilai were Conveniently Sub-Contracted OUT to Senegalese ECOMIG FORCES OR THE EXTRA SENEGALESE CONTINGENT WHO WERE LATER ADDED TO THE PERSONAL ARMY OF THE UDP LED REGIME ON THE GROUND THAT THE GAMBIAN ARMY AND POLICE ARE NOT RELIABLE AND ARE A SECURITY RISK. IN MANY COUNTRIES, SUCH AN ACT WITHOUT THE INPUT OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH WOULD BE CONSIDERED TREASONOUS. IN THE NEW GAMBIA, WHERE THE CONSTITUTION IS TREATED AS A TOILET TISSUE PAPER TO BE DISCARDED AT WILL AS WAS THE CASE DURING THE REGIME, “GAMBIA HAS DECIDED” AGAINST. I GUESS THE MEMO HAS NOT GOTTEN TO THE UDP LED REGIME LEADERSHIP. These are Gambians who Deserved to be Treated Equally, but they were not. The Question then is, what Accounts for the Difference and Disproportionate Reaction or Response? The Unavoidable Elephant in the room with this Insidious State of Affairs is, the Kanilai Gambians are of the Jola ethnic group of former President Yaya Jammeh, while the other is Mandinka of the Current UDP Led Government of Ousainou Darbo and Mai Fatty “Fronted” by Adama Barrow. I am saying what I am saying because we have to be willing to “peel away” from the Onion of “See no evil”, “hear no evil” unless it is my family that is Victimized is not a Sustainable Proposition for any Organization especially a small Nation State like the Gambia. The Miss Badjie’s of the Gambia, the Young Prison Official who was Enrolled at Gambia University and was Unceremoniously transferred from his position and Posted somewhere in the Upper River Region as are many like them who were purged are a “Festering Wound” on the Gambian Body Politics that is Denied the Required Medical Treatment. Gambians must Commit and Resolve to Mitigate Wrong Deeds Wherever and Whenever they Encounter it. They must Speak up. Say something. Write about it. Please be advised however, Endeavor to be free of Insults and Degrading anyone no matter how much they appear to”Deserve it”. They are fellow Gambians and someone’s son, daughter, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, father or mother. In the event that you Convinced yourself they are none of these, reconvince yourself that they are long lost “Soul” returned to torment you until you Change your ways. If RESPECT yourself, exponge and or terminate filty and disparaging remarks and comments. Let’s us Begin the Healing and Forgiveness. Let’s us be Inclusively Broad Based in Governance and Sharing of the National Pie or in our case in the Gambia, Bowls of “Benna Chinn” and “Dommo Daa”. Let’s us eat from the same bowl. APRC, UDP, PDOIS, PPP NRP AND MAMA KANDEH’S PARTY WHICH I CAN’T REMEMBER THE NAME. PLEASE SHARE THE RICE AND MEAT. WHATEVER YOU DO DON’T CHOKE NUTRITIONALLY OR POLITICALLY. One People, One Destiny.

    • Gambia labour Congress

      Good thouhts

  4. Where is Mr Sidi Sanneh? U questioned why this man kept his job while the Jolas were getting sacked. I get confused with all this tribal nonsense, can you enlighten me. We are one Gambia, I personally couldn’t careless what tribe one comes from, if you are found wanting in any criminal activity or found to be incompetent in your position, let you be removed and be replaced by a suitable and better qualified candidate.Very Please with this appointment as his CV seems to be very impressive so I wish him all the best in his new job. We need reform within all the security forces in the Gambia and I hope Mr Kinteh can do that in the police force.

  5. Sidi n Bojang not Sanneh I meant to say.

  6. Great move by Barrow’s government.Giving position to people who are competent and qualified is the right thing in the right place.Favourism nepotism and all those vices should be thing of the past.
    God blessed the Smilling coast.!!

  7. Sidi N Bojang

    You got your assumptions wrong in comparison of the ill-fated kanilai pretentious “demonstrations” as regards to other demonstrations…
    The kanilai incited demonstrators confronted & engaged the ECOMIG armed contingent internationally mandated in the Gambia, bragging about, with the aim of “flushing them out”; there are EVIDENT security implications concerning syndola mfdc rebel activities in Foni which was the reason/s for the mandated forces deployment in Gambia & in the area in particular…
    The other demonstrations you mentioned were engaged by the police who are riot combat trained to contain…
    The ECOMIG forces are purely military; with the security implications of their very own lives as matters of priority, effective for seeing to their mandated task; coupled with what was at stake on the ground with rebel activities; which should’ve made any sensible person in sanity to know better than engaged them directly…
    The only mistake was, government should’ve acted faster in hindsight to deploy riot combat trained police on the ground to have served as buffer (divide) between the demonstration & the armed ECOMIG contingent; which could’ve saved the fatalities occurred; this could’ve saved the the muck being thrown at to stain the government currently; instead of the Interior ministry insistence on prior police permits obtaining…
    I hate the tribal animosity & eventual strife you & your likes are wishing & insinuating about, knowing &/ unknowingly (consciously &/ unconsciously); it’s only the EVIL manipulative kanilai yaya DEVIL & the EVIL DEVILISH mechanisation who have a SELFISH tribal agenda infectiously poisoning other shortsighted minded in the process…
    The real Gambian like almost each & every one of us are just like a tree with a (main) taproot & many other (smaller) roots attached; the taproot being the surname & tribe one is given at birth in Gambia & many other places worldwide which is inclined to one’s patrilineal (father’s) lineages; despite you can have a mother from another (different) tribe…
    I, for one, I’m Mandinka (through & through – in both mum & dad) but dig it to my grandparents you can have a Fula, Jola & possibly many other tribal traces in me as a Mandinka…
    I believe after the EVIL MANIPULATIVE kanilai KILLER FIEFDOM we now need to look at qualifications in appointments, personal integrity (honesty) of appointees, like you cited about the deputy police chief (based on legitimate evidences ONLY) &/ preferential cronyism above other qualified personnel, etc…
    Continued tribal (facing) referencing on individuals, NO MATTER how good intentions might be, doesn’t avail anyone; can only serve to divide us more than unify…
    Long live the Gambia…

  8. As you called yourself “peace” speak unity or you shut up

  9. Sidi N. Bojang, =peace#
    Belated Ramadan Mubarak, to you Comrades!
    When you read this posting, please don’t get amazed at my long absence from the media. It was strictly based on my personal moral conviction and devoted respect for the most revered and holiest month of our religion and humanity per se, RAMADAN.
    During this month, I strictly try to adhere to the wordings of the Holy Qu’ran and the sayings in the Haddith. Thus, I only engage my physical and spiritual features to worshipping the Almighty Allah (SWT), the Creator, Owner and Sustainer of the two worlds and all that begotten in them. So, I hardly engage in activities alien to strict religious worshippings, least I falter in keeping to the principles of Islam .
    However, I have been following developments, read almost all the opinion articles and editorials in all on-line tabloids, some of which did agitate emotions and preocupations. I was deeply saddened at the gruesome shooting and killing of Gambian-born HARUNA JATTA in his blood-birth home of Kanilai, Gambia by the invading Senegalese forces on the erratic notion of keeping the peace in Haruna’s own home. He was intentionally murdered by the foreign forces backed by the LIES from Mai Fatty, the witty/overweening sycophantic “minister of interior” who deliberately LIED that the peaceful demonstrators were wielding arms.
    Brothers, Sidi and =peace#, I read a lot of distressful opinion articles on that issue, an issue which was not judiciously addressed and surely will NEVER be addressed by the dysfunctional, incompetent, tribalistic and corrupt Barrow administration. Only an empty promise of investigation which will never take place. But Haruna’s soul is in peace awaiting justice when Mai Fatty, Barrow and all those who colluded with the Senegalese forces to kill him, eventually succumb to death and face the Almighty for their woeful decisions.
    Haruna was Gambian and nobody, absolutely nobody, especially a foreigner(the Senegalese) had the right to take his life in his own country. The matter cannot be left unaddressed on the pretext that the Barrow administration is revenging all that is related to President Jammeh.
    Opposition to the incompetent government should intensify hence our country is gradually being mortgaged to Senegal by the inept administration led by the Crab Island/Muslim High school dropout, the British Argos watchman in presidential clothing. What a sad situation for the Gambia. I prayed to the Almighty Allah(SWT) to help us get rid of this puppet/reactionary/neocolonialist man with his corrupt and nepotic administration that has nothing to put on the table for the Gambian people except repositioning their buddies and families in key administrative areas and remarking vain blanket government blueprints on 5 key priority areas for development.
    When the rains are already here, they are busy trekking/shuttling around the world to amass per diem emoluments with LIES coming from the womanizing/corrupt/tribalist “minister of Agriculture” Omar Jallow(OJ) with banal promises to farmers that fertilizer will be affordable. Under which conditions/terms, payable or free? He was there before as Minister of Agriculture. What can he do now that he has not done before during his glorious PPP government period?
    Conditions are hard in The Gambia for the average citizen, no electricity, water scarcity with appalling working conditions for government functionaries and security services while Senegal has started to pump their badly-manufactured goods for consumption in the Gambia with sneaky moves that allow them to pierce all echelons of our administration, from the corrupt Barrow himself down the ladder! Will the enablers of the inept Barrow still blame President Jammeh for all the horrendous activities now taking place in our country?
    Babu is back. Until I leave for the Gambia on my annual holiday on 10th July to 30th August, I will address more issues I read about during RAMADAN.

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