The leader of opposition movement Economic Freedom Fighters EFF-Gambia, presidential aspirant Prince Ebrahim Sanyang, has alleged that his fleet of cars has been blocked from entering the country at the Farafenni border, describing the act as politically motivated.
According to him, an Immigration Officer, one Buba Jallow falsely informed headquarters that the vehicles belonged to Talib Bensouda leader of Unite political party even though the cars have all been marked with EFF colours with his portrait.
Prince Sanyang further alleged that claims that the bus was carrying more than 20 Senegalese nationals coming to support Talib Bensouda is also false.
“Actually there were six Senegalese technicians I had invited to install specialised technical systems on the bus for our tour. The GID command acted on false claims without first verifying them. When I challenged the allegations with the facts, no substantive explanation followed. Instead, I was asked to submit a letter requesting clearance. I have submitted that letter and am still awaiting a response,” Sanyang said.
He said decisions affecting citizens must be based on verified facts and applied fairly. “The conduct of our government officials falls far below the professionalism, ethics, fairness and accountability we should expect from a public institution,” Prince said.
GID reacts
However his explanation, The Gambia Immigration Department director general Ebrima Mboob told The Standard that entry was denied in relation to what he called “movement control” reasons, and not political reasons.
“According to the report given to me, a group of Senegalese nationals arrived at the Kerr Ali border post on board a bus and a Pickup truck with Senegalese number plates, and carrying a PA system. During screening, they claimed that they are technicians heading to Banjul to join Talib Bensouda in his campaign. Looking at the nature of their mission in The Gambia, they were refused entry for failing to acquire entry clearance from the rightful authority,” Mboob said.
He said his office was not concerned about the buses because that was the police and customs matter but he said their concern were the people in the buses.
The GID boss said even if the passengers on the bus are what they claimed to be, (technicians), they are supposed to be granted a clearance but that was not issued because Prince Sanyang only notified the Immigration on Friday at 12:19 pm.
“You cannot invite people into the country like that with two buses to do technical work without informing the Immigration Department, and in any case such requests cannot be processed over the weekend. Prince Sanyang should have done a normal write-up and notify the Immigration within a very good specified time for us to do immigration checks on people moving in and out and within the country and that rule applies to all.,” DG Mboob said.
He also argued that Prince Sanyang’s claim that the vehicles are his did not add up since all of them were bearing Senegalese number plates.
According to him, the bus intercepted by his men is different from the one Sanyang is sharing on social media.
