The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Gambia yesterday refuted the explanation of the director general of The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) Ebrima Mboob over the alleged refusal of entry to its campaign vehicles at the Gambia-Senegal border.
The EFF had accused GID of acting outside the law by denying entry to its campaign vehicles but the GID director general Ebrima Mboob said the EFF and its leader Prince Ebraihim Sanyang did not seek clearance for the passengers in the vehicles, (who were presented as technicians) before they arrived at the border, adding that the initial information they got was that the vehicles belong to Coalition 2026 leader Talib Bensouda.
Mboob argued that his officers acted lawfully in accordance with their mandate without any political bias or influence.
But in a strong rebuttal yesterday, the EFF said while it welcome DG Mboob’s assurance that the decision was not political, an assurance is not an explanation, adding that his own account contains contradictions that deepen, rather than settle public concern.
The EFF said the DG’s statement only confirmed that their allegation that his officers acted on a wrong information that the vehicles belong to Talib Bensouda without verifying it in the first place.
“In any case, the vehicles were dressed in EFF colours and carried the portrait of Prince Ebrahim Sanyang, and technicians do not travel to equip one party’s campaign in vehicles branded for another. A simple look at the vehicles standing in front of the officers would have established who owns them and the Director General has not said whether that basic check was ever done,” the EFF said.
The Movement further observed that the DG did not give a clear explanation on the number of vehicles and passengers.
“The fact is, there were six Senegalese technicians, invited by Prince Sanyang to install specialised technical systems for our national tour and campaign, travelling in two vehicles. If the GID cannot state consistently what it intercepted, the public is entitled to ask how carefully the decision to refuse entry was made. Again, the Director General stated that the vehicles were a matter for the Police and Customs, not Immigration, but interestingly, he relied on their Senegalese registration plates to cast doubt on Prince Sanyang’s statement that they belong to the campaign. A registration plate shows where a vehicle is registered and not about who owns, has acquired, or has engaged it. And in any case vehicles registered in Ecowas member states cross our borders every day. The EFF stands ready to produce the vehicle documentation to any lawful authority,” the Movement said.
On the GID’s contention that the bus intercepted is not the one shown on the Movement’s social media, the EFF challenged the GID to publish the photographs and records taken at the border post.
“We are confident of what they will show. Also, what the GID calls “movement control” is a description, not a reason and the technicians are citizens of our closest neighbour, travelling on valid documents, and Senegalese nationals do across our borders every day,” the EFF said. It further said the excuse given by the GID for the delay in processing the request (it being on a weekend) is a lame one because by the Director General’s own admission, Prince Sanyang notified the Department in writing on Friday, 23 October 2026, at 12:19 pm and then submitted the formal letter requesting clearance, as demanded by the GID..
“Monday, Tuesday up to Thursday are working days and as of today, no decision has been communicated. A department cannot sit on a written request and then rely on the absence of its own decision as the reason for refusal.
If the rule applies to all, then let the GID publish it and show that it does,” the EFF said.
According to the EFF, this incident does not stand alone as it follows other complaints by opposition parties this month about restrictions placed on their meetings and movements.
“With the presidential election set for 5
December, every decision touching a candidate’s campaign must be lawful, reasoned, and visibly even handed.
We ask the GID to determine Prince Sanyang’s pending clearance request without further delay, and communicate the decision in writing with reasons. The EFF respects the legitimate role of our border authorities and we have cooperated fully with it. But that duty must be exercised according to law, on verified facts, and without fear or favour.
We call on our members and supporters to remain calm and law-abiding. Our campaign continues.
In a democracy, elections are decided by the will of the people, not by unexplained decisions taken at a border post,” the EFF concluded.
