The United Democratic Party (UDP), The Gambia’s main opposition party, has issued a scathing condemnation of Presidential Adviser Saihou Mballow for inflammatory remarks deemed tribalist and inciting, made during a gathering in Bakoteh on August 17, 2025. The event, intended to sensitize Guinean nationals about Alien ID Cards, has sparked outrage over Mballow’s comments, which the UDP says threaten national unity.
In a strongly worded statement titled “UDP Condemns Hate Speech and Tribal Incitement by Presidential Adviser Saihou Mballow,” the party accused Mballow of violating the 1997 Constitution, his oath of office, and principles of national cohesion. Mballow, a Fula, boasted about the dominance of Fula individuals in high-ranking government positions, including the President and Vice President, and suggested they would protect their ethnic group from perceived threats. “If a person does not stand for his relatives/people, who will he stand for?” he said, according to a widely shared video.
The UDP labeled Mballow’s remarks as hate speech and incitement to violence, arguing they contravene Section 58 of the Criminal Offences Act and the Code of Conduct for public officials under Section 222 of the Constitution, which prohibits nepotism and favoritism. “Such reckless utterances constitute hate speech and incitement to violence, which undermines the stability of our nation,” said Tombong Saidy, UDP Administrative Secretary for Media and Communication.
The opposition party went further, accusing the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) of fostering tribalism as a political strategy. “We hold the NPP accountable as the most tribalist political party in The Gambia today,” the statement read, citing a pattern of divisive rhetoric. The UDP called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Minister of Interior to investigate, arrest, and prosecute Mballow, warning that inaction would signal complicity.
The UDP also appealed to the National Human Rights Commission, ECOWAS, the United Nations, and foreign embassies to condemn Mballow’s rhetoric, emphasizing that “hate speech and tribalism have no place in a democracy.” The statement urged Gambians to reject division and uphold peace and unity, reaffirming the party’s commitment to a democratic and inclusive nation.
The Bakoteh event, organized to educate Guineans about Alien ID Cards, has raised questions about Mballow’s role, as he is neither an immigration officer nor a subject matter expert. Critics, including human rights activist Madi Jobarteh, have questioned why Mballow used the platform to stoke ethnic sentiments, especially among a non-Gambian audience. Jobarteh, in a separate statement, echoed the UDP’s call for Mballow’s dismissal and prosecution, citing constitutional violations.
As public outrage grows, with social media amplifying calls for accountability, the Barrow administration has yet to respond. The incident has reignited concerns about tribalism in Gambian politics, a sensitive issue in a country still healing from the divisive rule of former President Yahya Jammeh. With the UDP and activists demanding swift action, the government faces mounting pressure to address Mballow’s remarks and their implications for national unity.
