The All People’s Party-Sobeyaa (APP-Sobeyaa) has issued a fiery response to recent threats made by the Minister of Agriculture against its leader, Essa Mbye Faal, and the Mayor of Banjul, Rohey Malick Lowe. The party condemned the Minister’s remarks as a “brazen assault on democratic values,” following warnings reportedly issued to arrest the two leaders for standing with youth demonstrators calling for transparency in the handling of former President Yahya Jammeh’s seized assets.
In a strongly worded statement released Monday, APP-Sobeyaa declared that it would resist any attempt to intimidate or arrest its members and leaders, asserting that such actions would be met with “unyielding resistance” from both the party and the Gambian public.
“Our leader, a distinguished advocate for truth and justice, has stood shoulder to shoulder with the youth of this nation,” the statement read. “Amplifying their legitimate demands for clarity on the disposal of Jammeh’s assets and the identities of those who profited from their sale. This is not a crime; it is a patriotic duty.”
The Minister’s threats, which have caused a stir across social media platforms and civil society, are being widely interpreted as a move to stifle dissent and shield powerful figures from public scrutiny. APP-Sobeyaa denounced these remarks as authoritarian and reminiscent of a repressive past that Gambians have long sought to leave behind.
“The Gambia is not a fiefdom where ministers can wield power with impunity,” the statement added. “Nor is it a place where threats can silence the pursuit of justice.”
The party also issued a stern warning to the government, calling on it to uphold constitutional principles and avoid provoking what it called “righteous indignation” among citizens committed to democracy.
In a broader appeal, APP-Sobeyaa called on the international community, including ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations, to take note of what it described as a growing threat to The Gambia’s fragile democracy. The statement urged global partners to “hold the Gambian government accountable for its democratic commitments.”
“The world must not stand idly by,” it read, “as leaders resort to tactics reminiscent of the dark days of repression.”
The protests by Gambian youth—sparked by demands for accountability in the sale and management of Jammeh-era assets—have gained traction over the past week, with demonstrators rallying peacefully in Banjul and other parts of the country. Their central demand is for the government to publicly disclose how the assets seized from former President Yahya Jammeh were sold and who the beneficiaries were.
Essa Mbye Faal, a former TRRC lead counsel and now APP-Sobeyaa leader, has emerged as a key figure supporting the movement, alongside Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe, who has echoed calls for transparency and justice. Their visible presence at protests has drawn praise from civil society, but also apparent ire from government officials.
APP-Sobeyaa’s statement ends with a direct message to the Minister of Agriculture: “Retract your threats, respect the rights of all Gambians, and uphold the democratic ideals that define our nation. Failure to do so will only strengthen our resolve and galvanise the people’s demand for accountability.”
As the political temperature rises, observers warn that how the government handles this standoff could prove a key test of its commitment to democratic norms.
For now, all eyes remain on Banjul—and on a youth-led movement that refuses to be silenced.
