Africa-Press – Gambia. Ebrima Sillah, Minister of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure, has defended his recent call for a counter-protest in support of democracy, following criticism from opposition groups and social media commentators.
Speaking at a political rally on Sunday in Brikama North, Minister Sillah clarified that his remarks about the National People’s Party (NPP) staging a counter-protest were misrepresented. He said the intention was to demonstrate the ruling party’s commitment to defending the democratic values Gambians voted for not to support corruption, as some have alleged.
His comments followed a protest organized by Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), a youth-led movement campaigning against corruption. Sillah claimed that the protest was not purely anti-corruption but included calls for President Adama Barrow to step down before the 2026 presidential election agenda he described as unconstitutional.
“Everyone has the right to protest, as long as it’s permitted under the constitution. But if that protest shifts into demanding that the President step aside before the next election, then we shall see what happens,” he stated. “The President was elected by the majority of Gambians through the ballot box. If anyone believes they have support, let’s meet there again.”
Minister Sillah stressed that any future protest by the NPP would only proceed if granted a permit by the police and would be conducted peacefully and within the bounds of the law.
He dismissed claims that the NPP supports corruption and accused certain individuals some of whom he said were former allies in the fight against the Jammeh dictatorship of misrepresenting his remarks on social media for political gain.
“We know who is behind this. These are the same people we stood with to end 22 years of dictatorship. But now they twist our words to create division,” he said. “Regardless, we will remain focused on our mandate.”
The minister reiterated the NPP’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and the constitutional order.
“So long as others refuse to respect the law, the NPP will continue to defend it. We will protect our leadership, our mandate, and our democratic institutions,” he asserted.
Sillah concluded by urging party supporters to continue promoting peace and development, calling on all Gambians to unite around national progress.
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