Reports reaching Gainako from Dakar Senegal has it that Gambian Business Tycoon Amadou Samba a close ally of President Jammeh was involved in an altercation with security personnel of Sidia Bayo leader of NTCG. Mr. Samba who was reportedly on a private visit to Dakar was seen screaming while being dragged by some plain clothes men alleged to be private security guards of Sidia Bayo.
Earlier reports from various sources posting on social media alleged that Mr. Samba and one unidentified Guinean man were possibly involved in a plot to abduct Gambian dissidents resident at the Radission Bleu Hotel in Dakar. The Radission hotel is known to house many Gambian dissidents in Senegal. Unconfirmed sources reported that Mr. Amadou Samba was sighted several times around the hotel complex. He was recognized by few individuals who alerted some Gambian dissidents that Mr. Samba may have been on to something. He was allegedly seen closely talking with the unidentified Guinean man and possibly handed him some cash to him.
This suspicious activity by Amadou Samba around the hotel who is known to be a close confidant and business partner of Gambian President Yahya Jammeh immediately send panic among hotel residents suspecting that these people may be up to no good. Tension among Gambian dissidents have been heightened for quite a while in Dakar amid allegations that Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has sent his National Intelligent Agents to monitor Gambian dissidents in an effort to uncover any security threat on his government coming from neighboring Senegal. This may have underscored the reaction of the residents about a possible plot against dissidents.
Another report added that Sidia Bayo leader of NTCG, a political party registered by Bayo supposedly to force President Jammeh out of power by force happen to be residing at the hotel. Bayo reportedly upon receiving the report set out with his security guards to confront Mr. Samba on his alleged plot. The confrontation led to physical altercation where Mr. Samba was grabbed and dragged by Bayo’s private security. His image screaming and kicking was captured and posted to social media.
The million dollar questions many people are asking as this news develop, is why Amadou Samba was present at the hotel? Was he on a private visit or a mission for the government? Mr. Samba is known to have in his possession a diplomatic passport which he travels with as a result of his close ally with President Jammeh. Others ask why Mr. Samba would be traveling without personal security guards? Was it designed to disguise his presence at the hotel or just being a simple man who does not see himself as a threat to anybody despite his relationship with the iron fist leader in Banjul.
Readers may recalled that rumors of allegations of abduction by Gambian authorities of some dissidents in Senegal such as former CDS Ndure Cham, Mahawa Cham and Saul Ndow received extensive media coverage little over a year ago. Both of these men have still not been seen or heard from and Ndure Cham has allegedly been executed by Gambian authorities. It is an open secret that President Jammeh has personally complained and confronted Senegalese authorities on the increasing presence of Gambian dissidents in Senegal who he alleged may be working on destabilizing his regime.
In the meantime, the Gambian authorities in Banjul took Amadou Samba’s incident personal and has issued a statement on GRTS during its 10pm news that Amadou Samba “was attacked by criminals” Jammeh allegedly made a phone call to Senegalese President Macky Sall protesting vehemently against the incident with Amadou Samba. He has called for a full investigation of the incident and demanded specific undisclosed actions against the alleged perpetrators. The incident is sure to set a diplomatic row between Gambia and Senegal increasing tension and suspicion already evident between the two leaders. What this incident leads to next is anybody’s guess. Senegalese authorities are said to be handling the matter. Gainako will closely monitor the incident and will bring readers updated reports as they develop.
By Gainako’s staff reporter