Sad news reaching Gainako from our sister network the American Street News (ASN) has it that former NCP strongman Hon Foday Makalo has died. Mr. Makalo was 67 and reportedly died in Dakar today Sunday October 26th after a brief illness. Mr. Makalo’s demise came more than 10 years after his controversial disappearance in the Gambia. He was allegedly killed by members of the Jammeh security forces after falling apart with the administration. He served as the A(F)PRC Party administrative secretary round about the same time the leader of the National Convention Party the late Sheriff Mustapha Dibba also joined the APRC before is demise…
Below is the story as reported by ASN:
Foday Makalo, the exiled former member of parliament of the defunct opposition National Convention Party (NCP) has died. He died today, Sunday, October 26, 2014 in Dakar, Senegal where he was receiving medical treatment at the age of 67.
Mr. Makalo who is a one-time administrative secretary of the ruling APRC, escaped The Gambia about 15 years ago in dramatic circumstances. Mr. Makalo escaped following an advanced attempt by Dictator Yahya Jammeh and his regime to kill him. Shortly after his escape, reports were rife that he might have been killed and buried in a secret location. One of such conspiracy theorists was then opposition leader and member of national assembly, Hamat Bah, who advanced a report that Foday had been killed and buried in the garden belonging to then Niumi Chief Alhagie Tabora Manneh,
Shortly afterwards, Mr. Makalo’s official car was retrieved by the police and parked at the Barra police station. Little has been heard of Foday Makalo since then except for a one-tine report by The Independent newspaper about his secret visit to his family in Baddibu. His family and close associates later reconnected with him. He mostly lived in Mali where he sought refuge until his recent illness when he moved to Dakar, Senegal.
Makalo was a prominent Gambian household name both during the first and second republics. Foday is survived by his wife and several children and grandchildren. The family is currently making arrangements for his burial.
Foday Makalo is the elder brother of our Editor-In-Chief, Sulayman Makalo. ASN extends our condolences to Sulayman and his entire family for the loss.
Source: The AmericaStreetNews
Editor’s note:
On behalf of Gainako’s editorial team we wish to extend our deepest condolences and prayers to our colleague Sulayman Makalo, the entire Makalo family, friends and well wishers for the demise of Hon. Makalo. Gainako conducted an extensive reporting on the disappearance of Mr. Makalo and helped resolve the mystery surrounding Hon Makalo’s disappearance. His demise is certainly another great loss to the Gambian nation and struggle for political freedom. May the Almightly Allah welcome him in Jannah and comfort his family. Amen..