It looks like the former interior minister and leader of the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC), Mai Fatty has established his own private security force to protect him.

Two uniformed officers were recently seen escorting the political leader in Kantora, where he held a political meeting attended by dozens of his party sympathisers.

In a Facebook post, he wrote: “I am humbled by the remarkable show of support across the country. Here at Kantora, like many communities, the public response has been positively overwhelming. We thank you all.”

But there was no mention of his private security force that surrounds him as he travels around the country to drum up support for GMC candidates in the upcoming local government elections.

According to Police PRO, Superintendent David Kujabi: “I don't think there is any problem in hiring security guards and dressing them in uniform. As long as it's not a uniform that is similar to any Government security outfit.”

When asked whether the Police are not obligated to protect political leaders, he responded: "The police are not required to provide personal protection to any politician."