REVEALED: Bob Keita Recounts Heated Encounter with President Barrow Over His Third-Term Bid

Bob Keita, a prominent youth leader and a member of the Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), was released from custody this evening alongside fellow GALA members, casting a spotlight on his ongoing clash with President Adama Barrow. Keita’s release follows a fiery confrontation with Barrow, triggered by his public opposition to the president’s potential third-term bid in 2026, as revealed in a recent social media post.

The dispute began last year when Keita, during an interview with journalist Fatu Camara, urged President Barrow not to seek a third term. Days later, Keita received a confrontational phone call from Barrow, parts of which he plans to detail in his upcoming book, My Story.

According to Keita, Barrow challenged his stance, asking, “Why would you go on TV and say I should not run for a third term?” Keita defended his position, stating, “That’s my opinion, and I believe it’s the right thing to do.”

The exchange grew heated as Barrow dismissed Keita as “too small and young” to influence his decisions, likening him to Senegal’s Ousmane Sonko, whom he called “rude and arrogant.” Barrow allegedly threatened to jail Keita, warning, “If you’re not careful, I’ll lock you up,” and insulted Keita’s upbringing, prompting an angry retort from Keita before the call was cut off.

Disturbed, Keita informed his lawyer, LS Camara, his wife, and trusted friends, including Lamin, Kexx Sanneh, Musa Dibba, Nyang Njie, and mentor Muhammed Kanyi, instructing them to keep the incident confidential. He also shared his fears with his mother, who worried for his safety. The personal nature of Barrow’s remarks, especially about his parents, led Keita to distance himself from the president and the National People’s Party (NPP).

Determined to confront Barrow, Keita attended the NPP congress 2024, invited by party insiders, and provided a state vehicle to join the presidential convoy to Soma. His arrival drew intense media scrutiny, with a viral photo of Keita alongside Deputy Speaker Seedy Njie and one Amadou fueling public attention. However, Keita’s plan to address Barrow directly was thwarted by the event’s logistics, and he left frustrated, unable to fulfill his mission.

Keita faced sharp criticism from activists Mark Janneh, Waly Jr. Sizzle, and Fatou Jadge, who labeled him a “sellout” and “betrayer” for attending the NPP event, unaware of his underlying motives. Keita expressed disappointment at their misjudgment and sought meetings with Barrow through ministers, but these efforts repeatedly failed.

Keita’s activism, amplified by his leadership in GALA and the Bob Keita Foundation, which supports prison reform, has kept him in the public eye. His nearly two-year detention in Mile II prison on a rape charge, from which he was acquitted, informs his advocacy. Today’s release has reignited debates about political freedoms in The Gambia as Barrow’s potential third-term bid looms.

In his statement, Keita teased further disclosures, including a 2022 meeting with Barrow after his prison release and encounters with other officials, promising “parts 2, 3, and 4” of his story.