Commuters in the Greater Banjul Area, who often face punishing delays on roads because of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Masaneh Kinteh's convoy, are taking to social media to air their complaints.
Sait Matty Jow, a lecturer at the University of The Gambia, argued that citizens have the right to travel without fear of being pushed off the road to let the CDS' convoy pass.
He wrote on Facebook: "I see no reason why he can't go to work early and close early if he is concern about his security. This is one thing I do not support. Even the ECOMIG soldiers do try it on us sometimes. It needs to stop period. It is a mere show of force."
Zakaria Kemo Konteh also wrote: "Just give some people a little power and you will see through their nakedness. Kinteh was supposed to be that exemplary head of the Armed Forces and champion the Security Sector Reforms but his expanding ego is posing serious threats to the security of our citizens.
"From halting the operations of the Banjul-Barra ferry for several hours at the expense of the taxpaying passengers and businesses to pushing motorists off the road to blocking traffic all because the mighty CDS and his wasteful convoy were using these facilities."
He added that "Kinteh's conducts are insulting to our dignity as Gambians".
"Let this guy curtail his inflating appetite for power and prestige or get the hell out of the way. We don't have time or patience for arrogance and pomposity."
Karamba Touray in the USA also took to Facebook saying: "All road users should refuse to yield to Masaneh Kinteh's illegal, tasteless and arrogant convoy. Yield only to the convoy of the president and authorised emergency vehicles like ambulances, firefighters and police on legitimate law enforcement emergencies."
Another US-based Gambian, Pata Saidykhan commented: “With all the complaints about CDS Masaneh Kinteh and his needless, reckless convoy that he was not remotely crazy to do when he was CDS for Jammeh, it will take a serious accident where at least one person gets killed or seriously hurt for it to stop. People should start defying and refusing to yield."
An insider at the Police Headquarters in Banjul disclosed to What's On-Gambia that the CDS' VIP treatment on roads is illegal.
He revealed that traffic on roads can be stopped only in the case of movement by the President, the Vice President and visiting foreign dignitaries who are given presidential level security cover.