On GAF’s statement on Omar Sarjo
Dear editor,
I read a publication reported to have originated from the Gambia Armed Forces concerning the current controversial case of ex-soldier Omar Sarjo. According to the press release Omar Sarjo was dismissed from the GAF for simply enlisting in the force with false credentials which from my personal experience was a common practice occasionally registered among prospective recruits since the inception of the Gambia Army in 1984. Anyway, if that is all about the case of Omar Sarjo and the reason for his dismissal from the Army then how was that blown into becoming a major talking point in the recently held press conference by the Gambia Security Sector Reformers? And to say that Sarjo fled to Casamance where he belongs was totally opposite what the GAF revealed today.
How could the Defense Minister and the National Security Adviser mislead the government spokesman into making such a baseless assertion?
Besides, the report according to Major Lamin Sanyang, GAF PRO, supposedly made by a special-government- commissioned team did confirm Omar’s attendance of a Gambian primary school until grade 6 level or thereabout and further endorsed his Gambian citizenship. If that is the case, why then subject him to court procedures by the Gambia Immigration Department?
I am certainly interested in that official story from the government or the immigration department. In the meantime, I expect another government press conference or release to properly re-enlighten us on the Omar case differently portrayed from their initial misinformation.
Samsudeen Sarr
USA
