The leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), Mamma Kandeh, has rung an alarm bell over the recent secret meeting between President Adama Barrow and a Fula association called Tabital Pulaagu at the State House in Banjul.
The event, held on Tuesday afternoon, was organised by presidential advisor Saihou Mballow and journalist Mariama Jallow.
Kandeh’s primary concern revolves around the potential for foreign nationals to be granted national documents, a practice he claims, is unique to The Gambia in Africa.
In a widely circulated WhatsApp audio, the GDC leader expressed his dismay after watching footage of the event. He recounted hearing Saihou Mballow and Mariama Jallow discuss the difficulties faced by Fula people in the hands of immigration officials. Kandeh said he heard them state that immigration officers were “running after the Fula people, making them pay lots of money,” and that a residential permit fee had been reduced from D3,700 to D700. He also claimed that the meeting was designed to discuss how to stop the arrests of Fula people by immigration officers.
Kandeh further noted what he sees as a concentration of Fula individuals in key government positions, including the vice president and the secretary-general. He argued that if Fula officials truly wished to halt immigration arrests, they could have done so because they “the ruling party have the majority in the Parliament and that’s where the decisions are made.”
The GDC leader stressed that it is “shameful for a Fula to use his fellow Fula,” and challenged the organizers to vent their grievances on television and radio for the public to understand. He questioned why the alleged increase in residential permit fees, a change he says occurred before the last election was not addressed earlier by those now serving as presidential advisors. “Since the 2021 election up to 2025, they didn’t know that residential permit fees have been increased and they are the one ruling the country,” Kandeh wondered.
He also questioned the true motives behind the meeting between Mr. Barrow Tabital Pulaagu, suggesting it was solely for political gain. “What are they giving you, voters cards?” he asked, adding that a voter’s card cannot provide a job.
He urged the Fula community to “be wise” and not be used, stating that “no one is trying to help them apart from to use them.”
The GDC leader insisted that if the intention of the meeting was to sensitize the community, the organisers should have used public media like television and radio, rather than a “secret” meeting.
Kandeh warned that such actions would only bring more hardship to the Fula people, as it would create the perception that they are being used.
He concluded by imploring the community to be cautious, reminding them that their problems with immigration have existed since 2016 and that those now claiming to help have only recently developed an interest. “This is painful and you should not listen to them,” he said.
