Lamin Bajo, the Regional Forestry Officer (RFO) for Mansakonko Region, has been dismissed immediately following allegations of insubordination directed at Environment Minister Rohey John Manjang. The dismissal, announced earlier this week, has sparked widespread speculation and debate, with reports suggesting it may be linked to Bajo’s refusal to comply with alleged threats from the minister after he exposed her purported involvement in the illegal sale of mahogany trees in Kiang Kaif.
Sources close to the matter claim that Minister Manjang had targeted Bajo after he brought attention to questionable dealings involving the sale of valuable mahogany trees, a protected species, in the Kiang East District. These allegations first surfaced in June 2024, when The Alkamba Times published a report by journalist Kebba Ansu Manneh, accusing the minister of profiting from the illegal felling of a mahogany tree in Kaif Village. The report alleged that Manjang had received payments totaling D200,000 for the transaction, a claim she has vehemently denied and countered with a D50 million lawsuit against the journalist.
When The Alkamba Times contacted Mr. Bajo for comment, he confirmed he was aware of his dismissal. “I’ve heard of it and was called to collect my letter, but I will do that tomorrow morning inshallah. I think it’s true,” Bajo said, indicating he had yet to receive the dismissal notice formally but believed the reports to be accurate.
Bajo’s dismissal follows a tumultuous period during which he was subjected to investigations by the Personnel Management Office (PMO) and the Public Service Commission (PSC). The probes were initiated after a complaint that Bajo had insulted the minister, though details of the alleged insult remain unclear. Insiders suggest that the insubordination charge may have been a pretext to silence Bajo, who had reportedly resisted pressure from Manjang to suppress evidence of her involvement in the illicit trade.
The controversy has raised serious questions about accountability and transparency within the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources. Critics argue that Bajo’s dismissal reflects a broader pattern of retaliation against whistleblowers attempting to expose corruption in the forestry sector. Environmental advocates have also expressed alarm over the illegal harvesting of mahogany trees, which threatens Gambia’s biodiversity and undermines conservation efforts.
Minister Manjang has yet to comment publicly on Bajo’s dismissal, though her office has previously dismissed the mahogany sale allegations as baseless. Meanwhile, supporters of Lamin Bajo are calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his termination and the broader claims of misconduct within the ministry.
As the story unfolds, tensions in the Mansakonko Region remain high, and many await further developments.
