Samba Mbye, a native of Panchang Village in Upper Saloum District of Central River Region of the country has warned foreigners in the country especially in Upper Saloum Constituency to stay away from politics.
He told the commissioners of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) in Kaur where the commission held its third national consultation meeting on the Draft Constitution the continuous participation of foreign nationals in Gambian politics “unacceptable and an insult to Gambians.”
“We the people of Upper Saloum constituency have suffered a lot with regard to the issue of foreigners participating in our national politics. In every election that has been held here, there must be trouble as a result of foreigners’ participation in our elections and this should be stopped,” Mbye told officials of the Constitution Review Commission.
He disclosed that a lot of foreigners do cross the border to participate in elections held in Upper Saloum, observing that these people who mainly reside in Senegal must decide either to be Gambians or Senegalese or otherwise.
“I’m suggesting to those who are crossing to participate in our elections to stop such act, it is not helping us (Gambians) in nurturing our democratic values and ideals. I also want to suggest to them to either be Gambians or Senegalese,” said Samba Mbye.
Speaking on the issue of appointing Alkalos, the 80-year old man said foreigners have been appointed as Alkalos in Upper Saloum, noting that this act is unconstitutional and has thus created series of problems in villages across the constituency.
“In my village, I have seen someone whose parents were all born in Senegal and yet he has been chosen to be the Alkalo of the village. I have seen a Guinean whose parents are all residing in Guinea hoisting political party flag in his compound which resulted in trouble in our village and this action is an insult to us (Gambians).
He added: “I think we The Gambians should take it upon ourselves to stop some of these things that are going on in this country. It is very unacceptable and an insult for foreigners to participate in our internal matters and this has to stop.”
He called on the constitutional review commission to insert special provisions in the draft constitution that will prevent foreign nationals from participating in Gambian politics, stressing that all patriotic citizens should take it up to deny foreign nationals participating in Gambia’s elections.
Upper Saloum District is the home of Gambia’s current Tourism and Culture Minister Hamat N.K Bah. The region is synonymous with alleged cross-border voting that usually creates tensions among communities and candidates of political parties especially during elections.