A political tsunami has hit little Gambia on Friday, 29 June 2018, and the fallout is still unravelling. The Gambia is such a small nation that anything is amplified to an intolerable decibel level.
For the past month or so, some UDP surrogates have launched a sustained campaign to get Vice-President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang, SIS Director General Ousman Sowe, Information Minister Demba Ali Jawo, Interior Minister Ebrima Mballow, Agriculture Minister Omar Alpha Jallow sacked. They succeeded!
Although they are in government but are unsettled, living in constant fear. Fear of losing power and fear of seeing a minority emerge again as President in the near future. The thought of the above is keeping them awake and sweating at night.
If you studiously check the composition of the new Cabinet, you can't help but notice Lawyer Darboe's fingerprints all over it. Unlike most of my fellow Gambians, I am not surprised by this development.
A few months ago, I read in social media where Darboe was quoted as saying that after the three years coalition agreement, the cabinet will be dissolved and a UDP government will be constituted to complete the remaining two years. Halfway through, Darboe has brought it forward and the general consensus now is that Barrow will step down after serving three years and Darboe will complete the remaining two years.
After four rejections by electors, it seems Darboe is not confident of winning a future Presidential election but will instead sneak through the back door of someone's mandate.
Tribalism in our politics
The US Ambassador in The Gambia said in an interview that The Gambia needs honest discussion on tribe relation just as America needs honest discussion on race relation. She is right on the money. Tribalism is one of the biggest issues of our time, brushing it under the rug will not make it go away.
Amadou Sanneh, a supposedly financial guru was twice caught embroiled in corruption yet he survived. First, he awarded auditing contract to his own accounting firm to audit his Ministry which prompted the financiers IMF to step in and stop the deal. Secondly, DA Jawo stopped him from awarding the gateway contract through a single source.
Finally, a little advice to Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang, Ma'am, please turn down your redeployment and retire gracefully. You have achieved a lot and when the history of the third republic is written, you will feature prominently as someone who helped to put together the coalition that ended 22 years of dictatorship.
Saul Sarr
Keen follower of Gambian politics