President Adama Barrow has called on Gambians to reject tribalism and strengthen national unity, saying ethnic differences should not stand in the way of peace and development.
Speaking during the Meet the People Tour in Kerr Malima, Central River Region, Barrow urged members of his political alliance and the wider public to put aside tribal divisions and work together for the country’s progress.
“I want us all to unite and become one. All of us in this alliance should unite and become one. And the issue of tribalism, we should leave it. We are all Gambians and we are all the same,” he said.
The president argued that ethnic identities and surnames should serve only as identifiers, not as reasons to divide citizens.
He said every ethnic group has both good and bad people, stressing that individuals should not be judged by their tribal backgrounds.
“What is important is how we can work together and develop the country,” Barrow said.
He also linked national development to the peace and stability the country enjoys, describing peace as essential to delivering public services and improving living conditions.
Barrow said his administration would continue to focus on development rather than political arguments, pointing to roads, electricity, hospitals and fertiliser supplies as areas of work.
“Working and talking cannot go together. So my response is to just work,” he said, adding that his response to criticism would be to fix roads, improve electricity supply, build hospitals and provide fertiliser.
His remarks come as political parties and alliances prepare for the 5th December presidential election, with political debates and public exchanges among politicians drawing attention to ethnic identity and national cohesion.
